B.C. Announces $5M in Loan to Strike-Hit Contractors

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The province of British Columbia allocated $5 million in loans to help contractors affected by the ongoing forestry industry strike. The program will be made available for contractors by end-January this year. The announcement to this effect was made by B.C. Premier John Horgan during his speech at the annual Truck Loggers Association (TLA) convention held in Vancouver. B.C.

Horgan said that the strike following labour dispute between Western Forest Products (WFP) and United Steelworkers (USW) Union is unprecedented in the history of the province. He urged both the parties to arrive at an early settlement, so as to put an end to the seven-month old strike that has badly impacted the province’s forestry sector.

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The contractors will have to raise money to meet fuel charges, inspection and insurance costs when the logging trucks are called back to work. The contractors may find it extremely difficult to arrange this money, mainly because they have been out of work since July last year. The financial support offered by the province will help them to a certain extent, noted TLA vice-president Bill Nelson.

Meantime, Port McNeill Mayor Gaby Wickstrom noted that contractors may find it difficult to repay the loan amount. He urged the provincial administration to come up with concrete measures to help contractors.