IP to shut Louisiana plant, 550 workers affected
In August, IP completed the $6 billion purchase of Weyerhaeuser’s containerboard packaging segment. The sale IP management announced Nov. 21 it would indefinitely shut down the Bastrop, La., pulp mill due to a continuing decline in demand and global economic weakness. This comes a week after the company announced it would shut
down one paper machine at its mill in Franklin, Va. USW Vice President Jon Geenen said, “The USW is in bargaining with management at these plants and is fighting for a fair severance agreement for union workers at IP who are being affected in these difficult economic times.”
Weyerhauser locals meet in Nashville
Weyerhauser local unions participated in a special meeting in Nashville Sept. 17-18. Weyerhauser was purchased by IP in August 2008. Local unions had a presentation on the IP Union Conference’s building power plan called “Common Goals, New Beginnings.”
Members talked extensively about joining fellow IP locals in the building power program. Weyerhauser workers voiced support for the plan. They bring a lot of experience to the table, and are looking forward to increased solidarity with IP locals through the IP Union Conference.
About Our Union...
When the USWA and the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE) International Union merge on April 14, 2005 we formed the largest industrial union in North America under the banner of the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW). Our union has more than 850,000 active members in over 8,000 bargaining units. The combined union is
the dominant union in paper, forestry products, steel, aluminum, tire and rubber, mining, glass, chemicals, petroleum and other basic resource industries. For more information about the union, check the USW website at www.usw.org
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
IP workers meet for safety and health conference
The union’s first joint IP health & safety conference recently took place in Birmingham, Ala. Members had a chance to discuss the hazards in their workplace and develop strategies to address the problems.
The conference had a union-only session on Sept. 16 and a joint labor/management session on Sept. 17. 76 USW local union officers attended, as well as health and safety representatives from IP’s 14 mills.
Workers voiced concerns over long hours that cause fatigue on the job, the push for production and needed training. Strategies were discussed to address these problems, such as effective H&S committees, prioritize safety issues and getting
management to address them.
Union members also discussed the strengths and limitations of current health & safety committee structures, health & safety victories, long-standing unresolved issues, worksite health and safety programs and plans for the future. During the joint session, labor and management from each mill discussed problems, what is happening that is good and what H&S programs should be started. A follow-up meeting is scheduled in 18 months to report on the progress in identified areas.
Stan Benton, Local 1803 in Augusta, Ga., said of the meeting, “This program helped people from our mill learn about the common problems in all the mills that we can work on together.”
The conference had a union-only session on Sept. 16 and a joint labor/management session on Sept. 17. 76 USW local union officers attended, as well as health and safety representatives from IP’s 14 mills.
Workers voiced concerns over long hours that cause fatigue on the job, the push for production and needed training. Strategies were discussed to address these problems, such as effective H&S committees, prioritize safety issues and getting
management to address them.
Union members also discussed the strengths and limitations of current health & safety committee structures, health & safety victories, long-standing unresolved issues, worksite health and safety programs and plans for the future. During the joint session, labor and management from each mill discussed problems, what is happening that is good and what H&S programs should be started. A follow-up meeting is scheduled in 18 months to report on the progress in identified areas.
Stan Benton, Local 1803 in Augusta, Ga., said of the meeting, “This program helped people from our mill learn about the common problems in all the mills that we can work on together.”
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