Sappi and union representatives postponed talks again earlier this month, further delaying the negotiations that have failed to produce a contract for more than three years.
The union president said Tuesday the mill workers have now gone more than four years without a raise and the long delay has eroded employee morale.
“Nobody’s gotten a raise in four-and-a-half years. It does get frustrating to see this company continue to be profitable, but there are no raises for the workers,” said Brian Wade, president of United Stellworkers Local 1069, the union that represents
Sappi Spokesman Jeffrey Pina said the company is planning to sit down with the union this month. “We have negotiation sessions scheduled in Westbrook in December, and we are engaged from our perspective,” he said.
The longstanding dispute centers around several issues, said Wade. He said Sappi is looking to eliminate double-time pay for Sunday work, something the union is very much opposed to. The union also wants an increase in the amount Sappi contributes to its pension fund, a proposal the company is not willing to meet, said Wade.
In addition, Sappi is seeking an increase in the amount workers pay toward their insurance premiums. The union wants the amount to stay the same. Finally, Wade said the union also wants what he termed a “successor clause” in the new contract. He said this clause is a contractual guarantee that if another company were to buy the mill, it would be bound by the existing union contract.
Currently, there is no such provision in place. Wade said adding this provision to the contract would not present any costs to Sappi. “If they never sell us, it won’t cost them a dime,” he said.
The protracted debate has soured what used to be a good relationship between Sappi and the union, Wade said. “The relationship here isn’t real great,” he said. “We’ve always gotten along with the company, but that’s not the case any more.”
Neither side appears ready to budge in its demands, said Wade. “I think it’s been both sides,” he said. “I don’t know they’re ready to move, and we won’t accept anything less than we’re entitled to.”
The two sides last held talks in June, Wade said. He said there were talks scheduled for earlier this month, but the union asked for a delay because it was waiting for some information it requested.
“We’re waiting to negotiate,” he said. “I believe we’re going to negotiate fairly soon.”
There are about 180 Sappi workers in the local union at the Westbrook mill, said Wade. The union was known as the Paper Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union before it merged with the United Steelworkers Union in March.
Sappi workers have gone more than for years without a pay raise.
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