The union of Fraser Paper Inc.'s Edmundston mill have voted to reject the company's final contract offer.

As a result, Fraser Papers will keep the sulphite pulp operation closed and more than 200 unionized workers will be laid off.

The final offer from Fraser Papers to the union included a 4% pay cut in the first year of the proposed 4 year contract. The offer included a potential 2% annual increase for the following 3 years, depending on the performance of the mill. The offer would revoke the 6% wage increase that came into effect on July 1st.

54% of workers who voted rejected the offer because they haven't seen a pay raise since 2005.

Permanently closing the sulphite operation will mean cutting the number of unionized jobs in Edmundston to 80 at the remaining ground wood and co-generation facilities. The total number of full-time mill employees in Edmundston will be cut to 100 from the current 334, while an additional 12 part-time workers will be needed to fill in for vacation.

Source:
Union rejects final offer Final offer rejected Union rejects offer - Fraser Papers Edmundston union votes against new contract, sulphite mill will remain closed (New Brunswick Business Journal)