The Tree Workers’ Industrial Group is a grassroots organization started in 2019 in order to address the rampant exploitation of workers within silviculture.
In the six years since our founding, we have slowly and deliberately researched, communicated, and organized within our industry. We have been present in dozens of companies, distributing thousands of informational zines, and seen significant improvements in conditions as a result of collective organizing in camps.
However, many of you may not have heard of TWIG or these efforts, due in part to relentless censorship against us in the largest Facebook group for treeplanters, King Kong Reforestation. We had experienced this censorship since our founding, and without explanation from the former sole administrator of the group. This initially led to the formation of @Godzilla Reforestation, however this group failed to gather the critical mass necessary to compete with the legacy effect of the largest Facebook group for treeplanters.
This all changed one month ago, when the former sole administrator of King Kong, stepped down from their role, passing off administrative privileges to another individual. A transfer of administration was made from this individual to TWIG.
In an abrupt twist of fate, TWIG is now the administrator of KKRF.
The below image is a screenshot of the previous settings for “moderation alerts” in the group, which is a function that gives the administrator a notification whenever a keyword pops up on a post or comment, and streamlines their ability to delete it. While moderation alerts are often necessary, this image should make clear that the previous keywords were designed to suppress TWIG’s activities. (We have redacted incriminating keywords).
For the past month, King Kong Reforestation has been run by TWIG’s social media committee – a democratically elected working group of our members. This will be the new arrangement going forward. To clarify,everything will continue on as it has before – with the exception that discussions on organizing and worker’s rights will no longer be censored.
The group’s number one rule is now: Don’t be a jerk.
As planters, we have witnessed for too long the decline of real tree prices, gobbling up of the sector by megacorporations, the apathy of management towards rampant sexual violence in camps, and the mistreatment of workers, all within an industry at odds with the basic principles of sustainability.
We believe this needs to change.
We take this time to announce that, following over half a decade of careful planning, TWIG will be rolling out a renewed strategy to organize our industry, the details of which will be shared to our membership.
If you want to get involved, here are a few ways to do so:
- Meet us at @REKINDLE
- Reach out to us directly – treeworkersindustrialgroup@gmail.com
- Fill out our expression of interest form for organizer training
It is high past time for us, as workers, to play an active role in shaping our conditions.
treeworkersindustrialgroup.work 