Marathon Pulp needs worker concessions

Oct 24, 2008 | In Labour Negotiations | 10 feedbacks »

Marathon Pulp Inc., in Northern Ontario, is looking for major concessions from its worker's wages and benefits.

In order to keep its operation viable, Marathon Pulp has asked its workers this week to consider deep cuts now (rumored to be 12%), just six months before the contract with the operation's main union expires.

One long-time mill worker said he feels as though he‘s stuck between a rock and a hard place. “If I agree to a 12-per-cent cut and they close the mill six months from now, I‘ve lost 12 per cent off my wages and my severance,” said the worker, who asked not to be named.

About 230 people work at Marathon Pulp, 70 fewer than when Kruger and Tembec purchased it from Fort James Corp. nearly 10 years ago for $100 million. The mill has been in operation for 62 years.

The plant, which produces about 500 tonnes of pulp per day, is one of the world‘s smallest.

Read more:
Marathon mill looking for worker concessions (The Chronicle Journal)

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Comment from: Rick Wyder [Visitor]
Don't play the succers game, look at all the other places that have shutdown even when they have given concessions, agree to the cuts then ask for double severance if the mill where to go down, see what the idiots say. Don't fall for it
26/10/08 @ 23:52
Comment from: AL Dubord [Visitor]
DONT TRUST TEMBEC... 12%? maybe Lopez should take a cut.... i was put out my self two years ago by tembec in smooth rock falls.... dont give in... your mill was on the list of 3 a few years ago.. did'nt get better since then im sure... keep the fight against the blueberry machine.... GOOD LUCK, BRO's
31/10/08 @ 21:48
Comment from: Nota Bene [Visitor]
Looks like Tembec jerked another town around. Time for communities to pull a Danny Williams on these unethical corporate slugs. Any takers?
17/02/09 @ 18:58
Comment from: Jay [Visitor]
There are mills that have taken concessions and stayed running. You just don't hear about them because they're not in crisis.

The difference between Dryden and Prince Albert was that the folks in Dryden were willing to work with the company.
18/02/09 @ 09:04
Comment from: El Cid [Visitor]
What's the story with PA Pulp? Is it done? Or is their still hope?
18/02/09 @ 22:37
Comment from: Jay [Visitor]
I've got no news from PA. I do know that even Dryden is in pitiful shape(Paper machine and converting are gone now), and Domtar just posted an insane loss for the quarter.
23/02/09 @ 09:06
Comment from: Rick Wyder [Visitor]
PA will not restart until Pulp turns around big time and all markets have a strong turnaround, NG attempted to take advantage of the PA issue so no resolve was available, as far as mill taking concessions, do not know of any still running with the exception of Sault Ste Marie paper, they took lots not sure if they are running full out but were running last I heard.
23/02/09 @ 16:26
Comment from: jimmy [Visitor]
I think Kap is still going too.
24/02/09 @ 00:49
Comment from: Jay [Visitor]
Mills that have kept running due to concessions don't make the news, because "Isn't down, no change from last year" isn't news.

I say this as someone working at a mill that took concessions.
24/02/09 @ 09:18
Comment from: Rick Wyder [Visitor]
Jimmy: What concessions did Kap take to keep some of the site running, I thought a machine was shutdown there.
24/02/09 @ 11:01

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