Hard times strike the forest industry

By late 1982, a recession coupled with galloping inflation held the province in an icy grip. In the Cowichan Valley, we didn’t have to look further than the mills to see its devastating effect on workers and their families. Several operations closed, including the massive McMillan Bloedel lumber mill in Chemainus.

And 550 laid-off employees of that shutdown mill were still waiting for severance pay and were facing having to pay $35 extra beginning immediately out of unemployment insurance benefits for extended health benefits which the company would no longer subsidize.

“We can’t get any straight answers regarding the closure from anybody in charge,” said a local labour council spokesperson.

Meanwhile Crofton mill workers agreed to begin a seven-month job-sharing program which would save 69 jobs. In the face of word from the company that it would have to cut its wage total by about ten per cent, the union voted 87 per cent in favour of the plan which would see 36 men in production and 33 in trades and maintenance retain positions.

The plan would see production workers give up one eight-hour shift every two weeks, while tradesmen and maintenance workers would forgo one 12-hour shift every ten days.

1982: employment

Of the 15 students who had been in Cowichan school district’s one-year-old career preparation program, 12 were employed full-time, two were in post-secondary education and only one was unemployed.

1934: cars

At Napier Motors Ltd of Duncan, phone 496, advertised for sale: a used 1931 De Soto sedan for $435 and — also used — a 1931 Ford Panel Delivery van for $425. Also advertised were hot water car heaters, fitted, for $15.

1934: parties

In Crofton news, Mrs. B. Collinson held a children’s party for her son Ronald. Attending were Stanley Dyke, Bobby Rae, Donald McAllister, George Takarabe, Tommy Syme, Billy Ferguson and Norman Pombert.