A response to Don Nelson from Richard Myers, Treasurer IBEW Local #2300 Northglenn, Colorado – Labor Notes, September 1990
Donald Nelson argues that “workers need to unite to fight the [Earth First! and IWW] elitists who would preserve all of our nation’s productive timberlands and put us out of work…”
The statement is misleading. Although both organizations encompass diverse opinions, neither Earth First! nor the IWW seeks to preserve all productive timberlands, nor do they seek to eliminate jobs. Rather, Judi Bari should be credited with demonstrating that workers and environmentalists have common ground. Against the background of corporate clear cutting in northern California, she has sought to persuade the loggers that their jobs are dependent upon holding production to sustainable yields.
Columnist Guy Wright has written in the San Francisco Examiner, “Why the chain saw massacre? Corporate raider Charles Hurwitz, who took over [Pacific Lumber Company] in 1986, is leveling the forest to pay back the $750 million he borrowed to buy the corporation, mostly by floating high interest junk bonds.”
Nelson uses selective quotes to portray Bari’s disavowal of tree spiking as the positive of her real, published position. While Nelson resorts to such intellectual dishonesty in attacking his foes, one hopes that he is more forthright in representing his members.
Judi Bari has obtained support from many of the loggers, evidence that at least some of Brother Nelson’s rank and file are more concerned than he is about the impact that corporate America’s greed will have no jobs.