Workers at the Sappi Fine Paper mill in Westbrook have voted to authorize a strike through their local union.
In a vote on Monday, workers authorized United Steelworkers Local 1069 to strike if Sappi is unwilling to return to the bargaining table after its latest contract offer. The strike authorization does not mean the union has decided to strike, but it gives the union the power to at any time.
“It doesn’t mean anything right away,” said Local 1069 President Brian Wade. “It means that we’re hopefully going to get the company to understand that we’re not happy with what they’re offering.”
According to Wade, the main reason the union would strike would be for what it deems unfair labor practices. Wade declined to disclose what the union felt were unfair labor practices at this time citing legal reasons.
Sappi spokeswoman Brooke Carey said the company is disappointed in the union’s choice to take a strike authorization vote. She said the company believes the latest contract offer, which it gave to the union on March 15, is highly competitive.
“We recognize that a strike authorization vote does not guarantee a strike,” said Carey, adding the company is hopeful it can reach an agreement with the union without a strike.
Carey said a major contention is the workers at the Westbrook mill have not been allowed to see the new contract before being asked to vote on a strike authorization. Wade countered by saying all workers at the mill in Westbrook know exactly what the company is offering.
According to Wade, the union can strike at any time as long as it provides the company a 36-hour notice. Carey said if the workers strike, the company would use whatever legal means necessary to continue operations. She said the company is looking into contingency plans in case the union does decide to strike.
Wade said the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary. He said Sappi workers have not received a raise in five years, and some haven’t received a raise in nine years.
“Our position is the company is not bargaining fair with us,” he said. “All we’re asking for is a fair contract. We’re not asking for the moon.”
Wade said the workers at the Westbrook mill and Sappi have been working on a new contract since the old one expired in 2002. He said the Paper Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers union represented the workers until a year ago when that union was absorbed into the United Steelworkers union.
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