Union IP Council Meeting Brings Agenda for Change
Workers from International Paper (IP) local unions around the country met in Nashville on
Tuesday, April 3, for the USW IP Council meeting, hammering out a common program to advance the interests of all workers at this major forest products manufacturer.
The council, which represents more than 80 United Steelworkers locals and local unions
affiliated with other International Unions, discussed issues that will be facing workers at IP location in the future. They talked about the value of building a united front of all union workers at IP in pursuit of basic, reasonable improvements in wages, job security, benefits and working conditions.
USW Vice President and IP Bargaining Chair Dick LaCosse said to the assembled group of IP
workers at the Nashville meeting, “With renewed spirit on the shop floor and the added strength gained from merger with the larger USW, International Paper workers have a rare opportunity for a New Beginning.”
LaCosse said top representatives of the USW are now assigned to work with the IP Council on
many levels, all working to bring additional resources and strength to the union group.
Rank and file workers from IP mills and converters voiced many comments, questions and
concerns throughout the council meeting in Nashville.
IP workers at the union conference spoke out about local concerns, and developed an action plan to build power.
Union delegates expressed great interest in issues talked about at the “top-table discussions”
between top union officers and high-level company representatives. Everyone present was fully aware that change will not take place overnight. Ongoing bargaining with IP is far from being resolved. And union members from the different IP locations know how important it is that the company sees we are united and committed to getting fair contracts at all sites.
The meeting produced a common feeling among delegates that a leading paper company such
as IP should understand basic needs of workers in regards to wages, maintaining decent, affordable health care, retirement security including adequate pensions and contributions towards retiree health care, job security, contracting out restrictions and other areas of common concern. The consensus of the meeting was that establishing a bargaining structure with IP is critical to establishing a new relationship with the company.
Council members reviewed the latest news about current collective bargaining activities,
including details about top-table discussions with the company. Local union representatives also
reviewed the economic situation of the company and the industry.
USW members from locals that have been through the “Building Power” program at their
individual sites voiced approval of it and spoke about how the program has strengthened their local unions.
Nearly all the locals with agreements expiring in 2007 have had or are scheduled to have the
“Building Power” training program completed in the near future. All other IP locals will be trained at central geographic locations over the course of 2007.
Local-to-local communication will improve through the Contract Action Teams developed by
the program. The desired result will be for IP management to see the value of coming to terms with an increasingly well-organized workforce.
An assortment of union staff specialists reviewed the current collective bargaining situation at
individual local unions, talked about “successorship” language guaranteeing that workers maintain union conditions in the event of plant sale and spoke about what it will take to strengthen the position of union workers at IP.
Particularly emphasis at the Nashville meeting was placed on what’s happening with contract talks in Terre Haute, Indiana, Georgetown, South Carolina, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Selma, Alabama and numerous converter plants where labor agreements expire this year.
USW District 2 Director and IP Council Coordinator Jon Geenen talked about bargaining priorities at mills and converter shops, and the importance of working together to achieve common goals. Geenen emphasized bringing the converter local unions more fully into the coordinated bargaining process.
This plant-by-plant Building Power educational and action program is designed specifically for IP workers from both mills and converters, and is intended to make the most of the collective power workers at this company possess when organized, motivated and coordinated.
The USW Strategic Campaigns Department staff is assisting local unions in setting up a basic
game plan for forthcoming “Building Power” training sessions at local unions. And in an effort to
build labor unity at IP, workers represented by other unions within the IP system will also be invited to attend the training classes.
Delegates to the meeting also determined that IP local presidents will meet in Georgetown,
South Carolina in solidarity with workers seeking a new union contract at that mill.
As the conference wound down, one delegate spoke for many when he said he was glad this
was not just an information-sharing session, but a way to put together a solid action plan to build union strength for the benefit of all IP employees for many years to come.
Current and Upcoming Union Contract Expirations
USW District USW Local City State Product Expires
07 7-613 Terre Haute IN Paper 10/21/2006
08 2-505 Franklin VA Fiber Recycling Plant-Waste 11/13/2006
01 672 Solon OH Corrugated Boxes 12/1/2006
13 314 Edinburg TX Corrugated Boxes 1/31/2007
09 9-1418 Houston MS Corrugated Boxes 2/14/2007
04 828 Geneva NY Corrugated Boxes 3/31/2007
07 7-154 Indianapolis IN Folding Boxes 4/27/2007
07 7-154 Portland IN Partitions 10/14/2007
01 864 Mason OH Corrugated Boxes 10/31/2007
09 1441 Selma AL Fine Paper 11/5/2007
09 1444 Selma AL Fine Paper 11/5/2007
02 2-945 Fond Du Lac WI Corrugated Boxes 12/31/2007
11 264 Arden Hills MN Corrugated Boxes 1/31/2008
13 895 Carrolton TX Corrugated Boxes 2/28/2008
09 835 Auburndale FL Corrugated Boxes 3/7/2008
13 1148 Texarkana TX Paper 4/22/2008
13 1149 Texarkana TX Paper 4/22/2008
07 7-647 Des Plains IL Corrugated Boxes 4/15/2008
09 1137 Courtland AL Paper 6/15/2008
09 1161 Courtland AL Paper 6/15/2008
09 9-193 Courtland AL Paper 6/15/2008
09 1441 Maplesville AL Lumber & Chips 6/16/2008
01 1-662 Wooster OH Corrugated Boxes 6/30/2008
13 272 Bastrop LA Paper 7/31/2008
13 360 Bastrop LA Specialty Papers 7/31/2008
13 382 Bastrop LA Specialty Papers 7/31/2008
09 9-429 Statesville NC Corrugated Boxes 8/31/2008
04 381 Newark NJ Corrugated Boxes 9/15/2008
04 745 Waterbury CT Folding Boxes 10/6/2008
13 351 Pineville LA Kraft Linerboard 10/9/2008
09 462 Prattville AL Linerboard 10/31/2008
09 1458 Prattville AL Linerboard 10/31/2008
09 1978 Prattville AL Linerboard 10/31/2008
02 2-1007 Howell MI Corrugated Boxes & Sheets 11/30/2008
07 7-182 Hartford City IN Corrugated Boxes 12/8/2008
2009 contract expirations: USW Local 622, Lake Wales, FL; Local 1496, Meldrim, GA; Local 9-477, Georgetown, SC; Local 554, Springhill, LA, Locals 497 and 4-5, Ticonderoga, NY; Local 9-795, Savannah, GA; Locals 444, 9-447 and 1561, Cantonment, FL; Local 1055, Fort Wayne, IN; Local 694, Richmond, VA; Local 946, Kalamazoo, MI; Locals 983 and 1803, Augusta, GA; Local 9-546, Bay Minette, AL; Local 1216, Chicago, IL; Local 997, Welford, SC.
2010 contract expirations: Local 398, Springhill, LA; Local 8-294, Chesapeake, VA; Local 9-1755, Atlanta, GA; Locals 2-505 and 1488, Franklin, VA; Local 635, Mt Carmel, PA; Local 9-738, Riegelwood, NC.
