In an all-out effort to take away some 35% in wage and benefit concessions from United Steelworkers and Canadian Office and Professional Employee Union members, Tembec Inc. negotiators have informed the unions that it will lock out its Manitoba Newsprint Operations in Pine Falls on September 1, 2009.

Over 250 USW Local 3-1375 members are employed in the operations.

"The company is holding true to an ultimatum style of collective bargaining," says USW area supervisor Wayne Skrypnyk. "It threatened a shutdown on September 1 if it didn't get its way and now it is proceeding."

Union negotiators were presented further details on concession demands this morning.

At the same time the company refuses to share information on any other efforts it may be taking with other stakeholders to reduce costs for the operations.

"There's much the company could do, with other stakeholders, in terms of achieving savings on fibre and silviculture costs, woodlands costs, energy and transportation efficiencies, and taxes but it categorically refuses to share those options with us," says union staff representative Scott McRitchie.

Skrypnyk says the union is willing to continue to bargain and encourages the company to reconsider its lock out position.

"Our members and the people of Powerview-Pine Falls have already suffered enough through the current economic downturn," says Skrypnyk. "A lockout on September 1, after contract talks just begun on August 13, does not send a positive signal to workers or the community. Tembec has to act responsibly."

Source: United Steelworkers