David Eby

The B.C. government is committed to including forestry workers in discussions about the industry’s future, Premier David Eby told a union-organized meeting Tuesday, while saying it “stings a bit” to hear they’ve felt sidelined. “Forestry has a bright future in British Columbia,” Eby said. “We are in a challenging time right now, but we are going to get there together…” The premier was speaking at a summit in Victoria organized by three unions: Unifor, United Steelworkers District 3 and the Public and Private Workers of Canada. …The unions understand the industry has to change, McGarrigle said, citing reconciliation with First Nations and the need to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. …The unions accept all the goals the government is balancing, McGarrigle said. “But our key point is why are workers who built the industry and their unions sort of an afterthought. They should be central to any strategy.”