As per our Code of Conduct, we are committed to continual improvement of our human rights standards and practices. We believe every employee and potential employee, as well as every customer, supplier, contractor or other person in a business relationship with West Fraser must be treated with dignity and respect, and that our employees are also responsible for treating others with dignity and respect. We are committed to working with Indigenous Peoples in a manner that promotes mutual respect and understanding of each other's interests, values and goals.
We do not condone, tolerate or ignore any harassment or discrimination on any ground protected by applicable law, and will not condone, tolerate or ignore violence or threats of violence. Training is provided to our managers so they can maintain a harassment, discrimination and violence-free workplace, and promptly address concerns raised with, or observed, by them.
We review and assess the effectiveness of and our compliance with these commitments. All of our operations adhere to the human rights laws of the United States and Canada, which includes protection of our employees’ rights of free association and collective bargaining.
See our Code of Conduct, section 5. Human Rights, Discrimination and Harassment
We maintain multiple voluntary forest certification standards that require the review of human rights issues within our harvesting and fibre purchasing activities.
In Western Canada our wood sourcing policy for our pulp and MDF operations is further certified and independently audited to PEFC Chain-of-Custody and FSC’s Controlled Wood certifications. These certifications incorporate requirements that no wood is harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights or any of the ILO Core Conventions, as defined in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, 1998.
Our Code of Conduct, signed by our employees, outlines our commitment to human rights (defined by the laws of Canada and the United States).
All of our foresters receive training to meet the requirements of the Company’s forest management and sourcing certifications, which include human rights provisions.
We are certified to SFI for Fiber Sourcing for procured timber. The Gilman mills acquired in mid-2017 will be pursuing SFI Fiber Sourcing certification in 2018.
Beyond SFI, we maintain a number of forestry certifications which include requirements that we have avoided controversial sources, including fibre harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights or in violation of any of the ILO Core Conventions, as defined in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, 1998.