Woodland mill hires replacement workers as union strike continues

The strike by 80 union workers at the Woodland Pulp mill, which began on October 14, is expected to continue at least until November 8, as both the unions and the company have dug in on their positions and tensions have risen. Woodland Pulp hired temporary replacement workers who began crossing the picket lines to work on October 23, and the union workers have settled in for a longer term strike. The strike, which has garnered much attention throughout Maine, is primarily driven by the workers' desire for job security and for preserving their core trades.
The temporary replacement workers have been hired through Strom Engineering Corporation, based in Minnesota. "They are professional scabs" who are used to "being hollered at and screamed at," says Danny Loudermilk, the District 4 business representative for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), although he says that's not happening at the Woodland picket lines. He's not sure how many have been hired, but he notes that 23 rooms were reserved for them at the International Motel in Calais.
"We expected good faith negotiations, but instead we've encountered a company that refuses to acknowledge the importance of these jobs to the community and continues to engage in bad faith bargaining practices," says IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. "This latest stunt of bringing in scab workers is a slap in the face to our members and union allies. We will not back down to protect our members' livelihoods."
As for those on strike, Loudermilk says, "They knew this wasn't going to be an overnight fight. They expected the replacement workers, but we didn't expect the company to shut down negotiations and refuse to meet with us. It's like they just want to see a strike to prove a point."
"What's disrespectful is we're willing to meet at any time," but the company has told the unions that they first have to agree to conditions and to extending the contract, according to Loudermilk. "It's totally disrespectful to the workers and the community."
Noting that the mill is trying to continue mill operations with the replacement workers, Loudermilk has heard that there have been some problems in the mill.
Brendan Wolf, spokesman for Woodland Pulp, says the plant is continuing to operate, and "we will do what we need to be operational." He says that there have not been any issues with operations within the mill.
Concerning negotiations with the union, Wolf notes that the contracts expired at the end of August, and a 30-day extension was then agreed upon. Wolf says the unions turned down the company's sole offer. When Woodland Pulp then offered a 15-day extension at the beginning of October, the unions indicated that they were not interested and instead sent notice of the decision to strike. "The company was willing to let them continue to work under an extension," says Wolf. "We didn't lock the employees out. The union voted to strike."
According to Wolf, no conditions were placed by the company on continued negotiations with the unions.
Loudermilk expects the strike to continue at least until November 8, when a federal mediator will be meeting with the company and the unions. Wolf agrees and says it's possible that an agreement could be worked out then.

Reclassification at issue
Those on strike include 22 members of the machinists union, 20 millwrights and 38 oilers and steam and water plant operators. Loudermilk says that company management is attempting to replace millwright, pipefitter, machinist and auto mechanic positions with a general mechanic classification. Calling the reclassification "a radical restructuring," Loudermilk says that, if core trades such as machinists and millwrights are considered general mechanics, then any employee could work as a different specialist, and he says the move "could be a tool to eliminate jobs." He believes the company's ultimate goal is to be more efficient and spend less money.
Loudermilk states, "This isn't about the money. It's not a financial strike. These are craftsmen trained and skilled in certain areas. They don't want the company to make them into general mechanics, although they're willing to learn other things. But their core trade is most important to them. This is not a strike over money."
The IAM union has filed additional unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Woodland Pulp for the company allegedly refusing to negotiate in good faith. These charges are in addition to the ones previously filed against the company for similar reasons. Woodland management's decision to introduce the contentious job classification proposal during ongoing negotiations and a lack of satisfactory financial transparency have deepened the rift between the company and its workforce, according to the unions.
Maine Senate President Troy Jackson of Allagash joined the striking millworkers on the picket line on October 16. He commented, "These workers deserve a fair contract that reflects their training, demanding hours and dignity. Management has opted to go a different route, lumping millwrights, pipefitters and machinists into one category despite the unique training and qualifications each role requires. It is a demeaning and shortsighted proposal that threatens the safety of workers."
Approximately 340 workers are employed at the Woodland Pulp mill, which is owned by International Grand Investment Corp. (IGIC), a U.S. based company for a Chinese investment firm. IGIC owned companies employ a total of about 470 workers in Baileyville, with another 90 workers at St. Croix Tissue, which uses the pulp from the mill to produce tissue paper, and 40 at St. Croix Chipping, the former Fulghum Fibres operation that supplies the wood chips for Woodland Pulp.