Tolko truckers took job action yesterday morning
November 8th, 2011 | Posted in Labour Negotiations | 2 comments ยป
Logging truck drivers working for Tolko took job action in British Columbia yesterday morning.
Up to 60 drivers that deliver to a number of Tolko’s operations, including White Valley, Lavington, and Armstrong, refused to make their deliveries.
Tolko agreed to meet with the drivers about their concerns – namely safety issues and wages. The workers are concerned with the weight restrictions on the trucks, and the heavy traffic on the Kettle Valley logging road east of Lumby, British Columbia.
The truck drivers also want wage parity with logging truck drivers in the north. Tolko already feels their wages are competitive with their geographical region.
Interior Logging Association spokesperson Wayne Lintott said all the drivers will be back to work today.
Read more:
Truckers Take Job Action Against Tolko – Tolko to clarify safety issues but no promise on rate hike (AM 1150)
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I have been a truck logger for most of my life. It is a bussiness where you invest over a quarter of a million dollars to get into. You take on all the liabilities that comes with being a bussiness owner. When you hire out the mills don’t ask what your rates are. They dictate the pay scale. Phone a house building contractor , a plumber, electrician or a taxi and tell them you’ll only pay less than it’s worth.You know what they’ll tell you. Truckers are expected to live off equipment depreciation not profits. Rates have no where near kept up to increased costs. Contractors and truckers alike are threatened with dismissal as an intimidation tactic if you dare complain or ask for more money so as to keep the bills current without robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Mills even go to the extent to cut hauling rates or squeeze cycle times if their bottom line gets anywhere near being in jeprody. But they never offer any more when they are flush. Truckers still have to fight tooth and nail to even get back to where they were. They would be abhorred if they thought someone made a bit of a profit.
Presently mills will help subsidize fuel costs but what about increased costs in tires, oil changes, parts & repairs, labour costs at truck shops,licencing and insurance which is $10000 to $14000 depending on the coverage carried. Truckers are even have to carry liability to indemnify licencees against different things.
These shut downs are not about greed it’s about being able to operate safely and being able to provide for their famillys. To put something away for retirement as other than Canada & old age pensions most owner operators don’t qualify for any other pensions. And none are allowed any sort of UI benifits no matter how long they are shut down.
Don’t begrudge them fighting for a bit more money if any one thinks it’s a bed of roses just buy a truck . Get used to getting up between midnight and 3 AM daily, then spend your weekends working on your rig while every one is at the lake.
just ask the top managers of that company, by how much percentage their wages increase every years, prety sure their face will turn red and they will tell you that they deserved it, cuz they are greedy, they steel from you, to give it to the managers, cuz they deserved it, and they probly laugh about you when they are at the lake, while you got to work on your rig, to make sure you can supply more money to them the next week