Canada’s forest industry has built communities across Canada. However, ongoing challenges such as the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S., rising duties, severe forest fire seasons, the impact of the mountain pine beetle and access to fibre have created strains on Canadian forestry workers. Workers are also feeling the pressures stemming from employers prioritizing profits and shareholders over the well-being of workers and their families.

Right now, forestry workers need strong action to ensure they can continue to support their families and live in their local communities.

The USW is a powerful force when it comes to pushing for better working conditions in the forestry sector, government support for the sector and job security.

Our union represents more than 14,000 forestry members who work in wood product manufacturing, harvesting and transportation across Canada, including nearly 10,000 forestry workers in British Columbia. The USW is proud to be the largest private-sector union in North America, with more than 225,000 members in Canada, and 850,000 members in North America in nearly every economic sector.

By joining the USW, you will become part of the strongest forestry union in Canada.

In 2004, the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA) merged with the USW to represent and coordinate the interests of forestry workers in the areas of safety and health, collective bargaining, organizing and political action. A critical part of the merger agreement was the creation of the USW Wood Council bringing together forestry workers from across Canada.

With the USW, you will get a union that will work closely with you right from the start. The union will negotiate on your behalf, with your participation and in your best interests. We are a workers’ union with local representation in your community.

Today, The USW has some of the best collective agreements, paying among the highest wages and benefits for forestry workers. We negotiate comprehensive benefits packages for individuals and families, including pension agreements and increased vacation pay and leave provisions.

If you are a wood or forestry worker and want to discuss how USW can help improve conditions for you and your co-workers contact our organizers at 1-888-879-2411 (toll-free).

Ready to join the USW?

Sign an electronic union card today and encourage your co-workers to join you.

Or, select your region from the list below
(use the map for reference).

Kootenay

Thompson/Shuswap

Okanagan/Boundary

Cariboo & North 

Mainland/Fraser Valley

Vancouver Island & Coast

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

We are forestry workers fighting for forestry workers.

Your health and safety, wages, benefits and working conditions don’t reflect the demands that are being made on forestry workers every day.

You deserve respect on the job, a safe environment and decent wages that correspond to your work.

You can make changes for the better by joining the USW. Thousands of workers every year, across North America choose to join USW and enjoy the benefits of a negotiated, legally binding contract.

BEING A UNION MEMBER MEANS YOU HAVE:

·      Union trusteeship on pensions and benefits.

·      A real say in your workplace.

·      Local support and representation when dealing with health and safety and other workplace issues.

·      A way for your concerns and problems to be taken seriously and resolved.

·      The opportunity to negotiate with your employer on wages and benefits - with more bargaining power!

·      A legally binding contract.

·      A strong collective voice that allows you and your coworkers to deal with management as equals and put an end to “one-way” decision-making.

·      Access to expert union services to help you negotiate, protect and improve your rights at work.

·      The right to speak up without fear of being disciplined or penalized.

Join us.

Don’t you deserve better work now?