Pine Falls workers refuse to support former employee’s bid for the mill
February 5th, 2010 | Posted in Mill Sales/Transfers | 9 comments »
The workers of the idled Tembec newsprint mill in Pine Falls, Manitoba have refused to support a former employee’s bid to buy the mill.
On January 14th, J.P. Bradette, former Tembec sales executive, outlined his purchase plan at a meeting in Pine Falls.
Bradette is willing to offer employees significant ownership in the new company. He would create union jobs for 180 people, plus 20 staff positions. Bradette believes, if his bid is successful, the mill could be making paper by July 1.
The employees said Bradette’s plans call for cuts to production costs by reducing wages and implementing layoffs. Cam Sokoloski, president of the United Steelworkers, said the proposed cuts were too deep.
Sokoloski said the union is looking to make an offer of its own with support from the nearby Sagkeeng First Nation.
Letters of intent are due by Monday.
Source:
Workers balk at bid for Pine Falls mill (CBC)
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Ya…….good plan United Steelworkers……give it all to the natives.
me,
What do you mean, “give it all to the natives”? As members of the local community, why should the First Nations not have a stake in a newly formed company?
Why should the unions give control of the mill to another group of managers who will fill their pockets with the sacrifices and sweat of the employees?
If Bradette really wanted to make a deal, he should have spent a little more time doing his due diligence. If he respected the fact that it is the people who work on the floor that make the business work, he would have offered them a more significant ownership stake.
Instead, he reminded some of us of a scene in the movie Die Hard: With a Vengeance. The scene where the character played by Bruce Willis is forced to walk through Harlem with a sign that reads, “I hate n***ers!”
Here’s hoping all parties involved can put something together that works!
Then what??? Who are you going to sell it to??? For what price?? All pensions should be paid in full, all severence should be paid in full, and people need to get on with their lives. It is over, stop blaming and pointing fingers. Newsprint usage is in rapid decline. Year 2000 14.5 million tons consumed Year 2009 6.6 million tons consumed. Estimated for 2010 5.8 million tons.
disgruntled,
From what I understand, some of the employees in Pine Falls have done exactly what you suggest. That is, they have moved on.
After completing their own due diligence, the employees and other stakeholders in this process may well come to the conclusion that it’s time to say good bye to newsprint and move on. Or, ironically, try to negotiate a better arrangement with Bradette. Or….maybe something else.
I do think that the intent behind the idea of local ownership this time around is meant to preclude the idea of selling the mill again. However, that’s only speculation on my part.
I can’t argue with anything you’ve said about the newsprint market. The publishers and newsprint manufacturers who hope to remain in business will have to completely restructure the way they do business. Even then, how long can it last?
Good god, it’s a dinosaur, let it die already.
It’s not over until all avenues have been explored.
And as for “me” perfect user name obviously, you should have added a few more me’s than it would be all complete. With an attitude like yours people would never be able to move ahead.
With what has been going on since September and even before that with this TEMBEC, it’s all been politics.
Here TEMBEC had a newsprint mill that still made them money. Not only that, it has the lowest cost for hydro, it is centralized for shipping, the wood supply is close to the mill, the work force took pride in their work and mill. And yet they(TEMBEC) decides to first ask for ridicules concessions then shut it down, next put it up for sale. In the mean time TEMBEC only ask for a 10 percent cut at their other newsprint operation that loses money and does not make as good a sheet of newsprint and has higher hydro cost.
In the end maybe Pine Falls could get into another process, like biofuel or some other process.
One more thing,
If anyone has been following the footprints of this company TEMBEC they would see nothing but ruins left behind. Like from the middle ages come to rape and pillage.
If I sound bitter, here is my reality…..The Native Companies are the only ones working where I live. They are awarded most of the Oil and Gas Exploration work as this is the simplest way for the Exploration companies to get permits passed and appease government protocols. ( All proposed activity must pass through Native consultation)
I am not saying that Natives are not capable of the work, but its a one-sided coin. A minority population is being given preferential treatment, and its the SYSTEM to blame, not the natives.
Ironically, many of these Native initiatives are funded with government dollars, yet the native workers, as per Section 87 of the Indian Act, do not contribute to the tax base. How can this be sustained? You certainly could not run a business like this.
For the record, I have some close native friends, and I mean no disregard to this people.
To Kat-mandu
This mill is only a dinosaur because it made money all those years other’s in the east couldn’t. Shitty corps like Abibow & Tembec filtered all profits east to keep those money pits profitable. If Pine Falls can stay in the game & for once re-invest back into our future we can still be a profitable company for many years to come.