CORNER BROOK — Vicki Stokes is not sure what the impact of the rejected contract offered to skilled trades workers at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper will have, but she knows she will be saying “no” to the one offered to her.
Stokes, one of the few women employed at the mill, is a member of Local 64 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union.
The largest union of the eight under the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper umbrella, Local 64 will be the last of six unions working inside the mill to vote when they make their decisions today.
The two unions outside of the mill — Local 495, which represents Deer Lake Power employees, and Local 60N, which represents woodlands workers — were not among those who were given until today to approve the new contract the company says must be accepted if the operation is to continue.
When Stokes accepted a job at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper's shipping department in 1999, she was told the mill was only hiring people who had completed a three-year pulp and paper industry or related technology course.
“What was said was ‘we will need trained professionals with technology backgrounds to take over as the senior operators’ — that we were the future of the mill,” said Stokes, who completed a bachelor of technology degree through the College of the North Atlantic and the University College of Cape Breton.
Now she is disgusted with the contract being imposed on her and her fellow workers by Kruger Inc., the mill’s parent company. She feels like she has wasted her time and education and that unionized mill workers are “being held responsible for poor management decisions.”
She said working at the mill has been “torture” with the tinged atmosphere there lately. She cannot justify working there for less, as is proposed in the contracts all of the unions have had to consider this past week.
“I never thought I was lucky to get a job there,” she said. “I considered them lucky to have people like me and my co-workers.”
The Western Star has learned some of the details of what the unions have been offered. It involves concessions such as a 10 per cent wage reduction from the last collective agreement that came into effect in June 1, 2008.
There will be no retroactive wage increases for the last three years, but a one per cent increase going back to June 1 of this year and another 1.5 per cent hike as of June 1, 2013.
The 10 per cent wage deferral agreement signed by all eight unions back in February 2010 will remain in effect with the new contract. That was essentially a loan to the company from the unions which will only be repaid if the company can return to profitability.
The contract will also include different pay rates for newer workers. Anyone with less than 1,500 hours punched or less will receive 70 per cent of the negotiated rate for their job classification. Those with between 1,501 and 3,000 hours of employment will get 80 per cent, those with 3,001 to 4,500 hours will receive 90 per cent and only those who have worked 4,501 hours or more will get the full rate.
The company also wants a joint committee formed to come up with ways to find another four per cent savings in labour costs.
“These additional measures will be implemented no later than 90 days after date of ratification or earlier if agreed between the parties,” states the contract offer to the unions.
There are also concessions affecting pensions and benefits.
On Wednesday, Lodge 1567 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted to reject the offer made to their local, which represents skilled trades workers such as welders, millwrights and machinists.
On Thursday, votes were conducted by the five other CEP unions, including the Local 242 papermakers union, the Local 96 electricians union and Local 57N and Local 58, which respectively represent office staff and security.
While the IAMAW announced the results of its voting moments after it was done, the CEP unions have all agreed not to make public how they have voted until Local 64 finishes voting. That is not expected to conclude until late tonight.
Corner Brook Mayor Neville Greeley said he was concerned about the first union to vote having rejected their offer and what it might mean for the future of the mill and Corner Brook itself if the other unions follow suit.
He said if mill workers think they can find a better life someplace else, then they should have voted in favour of the deal and then left of their own accord.
“That’s a personal choice that an individual would have to make, making a decision as to what’s in their and their family’s best interest,” said Greeley. “What’s in Corner Brook’s best interest is a mill that is operating. If somebody is not prepared to work in the mill for the amount of money that the mill is offering, then accept the offer and leave. At least you would have that choice.
“By not accepting the deal, it looks like they are not going to have a choice and everybody will have to look at leaving.”
On Thursday, Premier Kathy Dunderdale announced that she will be coming to Corner Brook today.
“I just want to be with the people in that part of the province while this is ongoing,” said the premier. “It’s a time of high tension, high stress and concern."
The premier did not wish to make any detailed comment on the situation until all of the voting was completed, but did comment when asked about the rejection of one contract offer by Lodge 1567 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers on Thursday.
"There's nothing unexpected happening here,” she said. “People on the ground have a very good idea of what people's positions are and so on."
Put your Big Girl coveralls on and go peddle your job skills somewhere you will be appreciated by' !!! There must be some place out there you can apply for and obtain work in your field and be successful AND appreciated. Commute back and forth. I am sure "hubby" will want what's best for you. If that means two away and two home...so be it. All the best!