IP Union News February 2009

IP Locals, USW Leaders Hold National Conference Call, Discuss Key Issues at IP Facilities

On Thursday January 22, local union leaders from dozens of IP mills and converters joined USW Vice President Jon Geenen, District 9 Director Stan Johnson, Assistant to the President Leeann Anderson and Strategic Campaigns staff on a national conference call, utilizing the latest technology to improve union communications.

Johnson started the call by talking about the impact of these difficult economic times, difficulties experienced by union members in paper and other industries and the importance of using improved communications tools to increase union effectiveness. He said, “What’s happening in paper is a microcosm of what’s happening in the bigger economy,” but that within current economic and political events “lies opportunity for us to change the direction our nation has taken over the last decade.”

Geenen gave details about the emerging crises, reporting that though IP’s stock is down, the company is in a good cash situation right now. He discussed the specter of bankruptcies at Smurfit-Stone, Abitibi/Bowater and elsewhere, and how the union’s strategy is to preserve and protect jobs. The good news is that IP and GP mill and converter agreements have provided union workers with the best contract protection ever in the face of this downturn. Geenen said, “Collective bargaining with IP became the benchmark for new practices to collective bargaining.” For example, a Temple Inland company-wide agreement is up for consideration now. These Master Agreements minimize the chances for a race to the bottom in the industry.

USW staff reviewed the Building Power program underway at IP local unions since the June 2007 National Paper Bargaining Conference in Pittsburgh, the mill Master Agreement that was reached and the members’ demands for a national deal for converters. Also discussed were the three phases in the timeline created by the IP Working Group and adopted by the conference
membership, stressing education, mobilization & visibility, bargaining support, communications and conference wide activity. Communications Action Teams (CATs) are being created local by local, and conference newsletters are being circulated. Locals with pictures or stories for the newsletter should send them to the Strategic Campaigns Dept. (hscott@usw.org) or get them to staff reps who can send them to us.

Locals brought up problems with healthcare insurance and ways members have been denied benefits due to enrolment issues. A member going in for open heart surgery was told by management he must call off from work every day. Another member off work due to a heart attack was told he did not qualify for S&A benefits. Members who have problems like this are encouraged to contact Deb Edwards (dedwards@usw.org) at the Nashville office so she can create a database of complaints in order to address every one of them.

There is some confusion regarding the maintenance salaries in the Master Agreement. Geenen and Johnson urged locals with these problems to send them specifics so they can address them with the company. Converter locals said some members need a better explanation of when the Master Agreement’s $33 and $34 for pensions kicks in. Johnson said an email message will
go to locals explaining it.

Locals also urged that IP workers not forget about the laid off people as it relates for signing up for excessive amounts of overtime. Johnson said union workers should not allow themselves to be overworked to the point of endangering themselves and others. Leeann Anderson said the USW has been working to create a website for laid off members particular for each state. Information will be available through http://www.makeourfuturework.org/.

Locals from Savannah reported that the plant went down for a shutdown and inspection. They found 700 bad welds in the boiler. The company kept getting extensions on the inspection. This is a serious safety issue. Geenen said if the company is trying to get extensions on inspections, send information about it to him immediately. Other issues discussed include availability
of TARP money, retiree medical savings, the IP CEO’s big bonus and stock values. Plans are underway for more conference-wide calls to discuss these and other important issues in the future.