On June 5, Stella Jones served lock out notice to its employees at the New Westminster and Kanaka Creek facilities. Stella-Jones is a leading North American manufacturer of products focused on supporting infrastructure that are essential to the delivery of electrical distribution and transmission.  The two sites rely on the utility pole market which continues to be lucrative.  Utility poles sales totaled $385 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, more than a 5% increase in sales in one quarter. As a result, they were able to increase the quarterly dividend to shareholders by 11%. In their annual report they boast “The Company’s ability to build upon its record of performance and continue to achieve sustainable growth are dependent, to a significant extent, on its ability to recruit, develop and retain quality personnel…”

The USW 2009 members at both of these sites do not feel like they have been treated as if they were “quality personnel”.  In the last five-year agreement inflation rates rose unpredictably and significantly eroded the buying power of their wages. The Union bargaining committee asked for recognition of these facts and explained that the members did not want to get caught again in unexpected inflation while locked into a long-term agreement.  The Company has insisted from day one that the only term the Company would consider was six years and would only offer the same wage increases as what another Local accepted on Vancouver Island (where the cost of living is significantly lower).

While the Union has offered many options to get a deal, the Company has maintained their rigid stance and refuse to negotiate otherwise.  The Company continues to contract out bargaining unit work shipping our work south of the border to Washington and Oregon. All the while as a number of members continue to be laid off.

The United Steelworkers have enjoyed many years of a respectful working relationship with Stella Jones and employees valued working for this Company.  Through their bargaining tactics including attempting to negotiate through intimidation of our members, the relationship once had is now severely damaged.

Although the Company has stated in their correspondence to each employee that they have no intentions of locking out their employees, the Union has served strike notice, and we predict that it is only a matter of time before pickets are up at the gates of Stella Jones.  We still hope a long, drawn-out work disruption can be avoided.