About 90 workers at the Woodland pulp mill in Baileyville intend to strike at midnight Oct. 14, saying management has not been bargaining in good faith.
Unions representing machinists, millwrights and plant operators voted to strike following months of negotiations on a new contract, according to statement Friday from the Maine AFL-CIO. Workers say management is trying to change job classifications that would endanger job security. Specifically, they allege management is attempting to replace millwright, pipefitter, machinists and auto mechanic positions with a general mechanic classification.
“Our membership is willing to do whatever it takes to protect their jobs and a community that relies on good union jobs at Woodland Pulp,” said Danny Loudermilk, business representative for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 4. “No one ever wants to strike, but our members are proud of their work and they will stand strong against this blatant attempt to eliminate jobs here in Baileyville.”
The mill is owned by St. Croix Tissue Co., based in Canada, whose parent company, The International Grand Investment Corp., is a U.S. based company held by a Chinese investment firm. A call placed to the Baileyville mill was not returned Friday.
The IAM filed a complaint in August with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that Woodland management waited until negotiations were well underway to reveal its concessionary job classification proposal, and then refused to provide satisfactory financial information.
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