[LabComm] Fears spread with wildfires of more cuts to forest ministry jobs

[Marshall, Teresa]

Wednesday, August 27, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Fears spread with wildfires of more cuts to forest ministry jobs
Cost of firefighting may to lead to layoffs
 
VANCOUVER - The Ministry of Forests has requested a joint
labour-management meeting with the B.C. Government and Service
Employees' Union this Thursday, August 28 - sparking fears that the
Campbell government intends to announce more ministry cuts - as deep as
30 percent - to offset the cost of fighting fires.
 
"I call on Premier Campbell and the Minister of Forests to immediately
put the concerns of workers and communities to rest. The rumours are
spreading as dramatically as B.C.'s wildfires," says 
George Heyman, BCGEU president, noting that for the past two years the
only time this committee meets is to deal with government downsizing. 
 
"It would be the harshest reward imaginable to the professional men and
women who have been working day and night supporting workers on the
frontline, or working on the line themselves - to be told 'thanks very
much for saving communities such as Kelowna, and now here's your pink
slip,'" Heyman says. 
 
"It will not matter where these cuts are made - the entire budget for
forest management is related to safeguarding our public forests," Heyman
says. "It will be dangerously irresponsible to the security of our
communities and resources, not to mention grievously disrespectful to
these dedicated public forest workers - to make any further cutbacks."
 
Heyman notes that British Columbians are already asking for the Auditor
General to review how previous cuts made by this government may have
contributed to the fire disasters seen this year. 
The Campbell government has slashed Protection of Forest and Range
Assets by 32 percent. And, approximately 1100 forests ministry positions
will be eliminated by the end of this fiscal year.
 
"This government should be using the half-billion dollars it set aside
in its current budget to 'cushion against negative developments,'"
Heyman says. "It makes no sense to slash the Ministry of Forests
further. The cuts have already been too deep." 
 
-30-
Media, please contact:
Jeff Fox 250-388-9948 or cell 250-812-8185
or Teresa Marshall 604-291-9611 ext. 454 
opeiu 378
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to majordomo at bcgeu.bc.ca
 
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