PORTAGE LAKE (AP) – Loggers who this year won the right to negotiate rates with landowners now say they want to organize and improve their own futures by becoming a political force in the industry.

About 15 members of the group that went on strike for two weeks in January met on Saturday to reorganize the International Logging Association and debate the steps the group should take to begin negotiating cutting and hauling contracts with landowner Irving Woodlands Inc.

The loggers also discussed creating programs to educate young people about the industry and looking into ways to save money on insurance and supplies.

They also repeated their opposition to landowners hiring bonded workers from Canada.

The number of Canadians working in Maine’s woods this year is far lower than typical because the cap on visas for foreign nonagricultural workers was reached in March. Loggers said they believed rates have risen since the cap was met.

“Companies are saying there are no workers, but there are workers looking for work. Companies won’t hire them; instead they are saying they can’t find workers,” said Edward Kelly, of Allagash. “That’s because companies want to hire bonded workers at lower rates.”

He and others said companies plan to hire bonded workers when the visa cap is lifted on Oct. 1. Loggers said they plan to meet with Maine’s delegates in Washington, telling them that landowners use bonded workers to reduce cutting and hauling rates in Northern Maine.

“We need to get the politicians here,” said Bobby McBreairty, an Allagash woods contractor. “People in the area will get hurt by having bonds.”

The group plans to meet on Aug. 14 to select officers, approve bylaws and draw up a membership list.