Tag Archives: Corner Brook

Kruger sent a letter to its employees recently to say the company has been falsely accused of holding back information regarding the pension formula.

On Monday, the CEP held a pair of emergency union meetings in Corner Brook to discuss the alleged discovery that the negotiated proposal to grant the company a 5 year extension to make up for a deficit in pension plans would change the benefit formula.

Bruce Randell, president of CEP Local 242, said the reduction in pensions of current employees could be as much as 25% in 2014.

The deadline to approve the funding relief measures is Thursday.

The letter, signed by Daniel Archambault, chief operating officer of the Industrial Products Division of Kruger Inc., said “the company never had any intention to renege on its 2005 commitment and it is appalling to hear such declarations after we have helped the mill survive the recent recession and worked relentlessly with the unions to find solutions to secure the Corner Brook operation for the long term.”

Read more from The Western Star: Kruger says it was falsely accused by unions

More than 50 unionized Kruger’s Corner Brook Pulp and Paper workers had a quiet demonstration at the gates of the mill at shift change this morning in Newfoundland.

The workers are drawing attention to the number of contractors Kruger is employing after laying off several dozen unionized workers.

While the main gate was the site of the demonstration, some workers also gathered at the east gate that is most often used by contractors. The workers didn’t disrupt the traffic flow.

The demonstration, which started at 6:30am was over before the end of the shift change at 8am.

Source:
Mill workers protest use of contractors

The workers at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper are meeting again today with management to discuss their pension plan.

At issue is the fact their pension plan is tens of millions of dollars short.

Their employer, Kruger, is asking for 10 years to repay that shortfall, rather than 5, in order to help them keep the mill profitable.

The workers are being asked to vote on this proposal. To pass, Kruger needs support from two-thirds of the current workers and retirees.

Read more:
Kruger makes pension pitch to mill workers, retirees (CBC)

Workers at Kruger‘s Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill in Newfoundland and Labrador held a demonstration this morning before reporting for their shifts.

The workers were protesting Kruger’s decision to hire contract workers for maintenance duties.

Dwayne Avery, vice-president of the union representing millwrights and machinists, said workers are upset that Kruger Inc. is not hiring displaced mill employees first.

Read more:
Mill workers stage pre-shift protest (CBC)

The meetings between Kruger and the 8 union locals representing its workers at the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill have concluded and the word is at least 43 full time jobs have been cut.

31 of the jobs were CEP members.

8 machinists, members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, received notice today, and 4 more machinists will be laid off at a later date.

In an internal memo accidentally released by Kruger last week, the company said mills of comparable size are operating with 135 fewer employees than the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill.

The memo also mentioned the labour costs per tonne at the mill are $40 more than North American average of $100 and its main competitor plans to reduce its to $80.

Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is the only pulp and paper mill still operating in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Read more:
More layoffs at Kruger’s Corner Brook mill (CBC)
Mill cutting at least 43 full-time jobs in Corner Brook (The Western Star)
Layoffs Begin at Corner Brook Mill (VOCM)

The Western Star is reporting that Kruger is in the process of cutting jobs today at its Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill.

Their sources say that all 8 union locals in the mill will have a separate meeting with the company throughout the day today.

The first union that met this morning was reportedly informed that some jobs falling under their umbrella were being cut.

Source:
Jobs being cut at Corner Brook mill (The Western Star)

Kruger sent an internal memo to CBC in Newfoundland and Labrador this afternoon, seemingly by accident.

In the internal memo, the company mentions the production costs at their Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill in Newfoundland and Labrador are well above the average in North America, and the mill would operate more efficiently with 135 less workers in the mill.

The memo mentions the labour costs per tonne at the mill are $40 more than North American average of $100 and its main competitor plans to reduce its to $80.

Kruger wants to protect its jobs, but its goal is to “reduce its workforce accordingly” so it can rank within the first quartile of the industry.

Source:
Corner Brook mill facing job cuts, Kruger memo says (CBC)
View the Internal Memo
Mill’s leaked memo verifies reports of cuts (The Western Star)

This morning’s closed door meeting between Kruger and the Union (CEP) representing the workers at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper has concluded.

No immediate job cuts were announced, however, Kruger plans to explore a “manning reorganization and rationalization” of the workforce in the first quarter of 2012.

Kruger is still working on the details and will meet with the unions again within the first quarter.

Read more:
Corner Brook mill softens planned cuts
Breaking: No Immediate Cuts at Corner Brook Mill (VOCM)

Job cuts of up to 90 positions are coming this week to Kruger‘s Corner Brook Pulp and Paper in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Western Star has heard from sources indicating the job cuts will be across the board – affecting management positions, unionized mill positions, and positions in the woodland operations. Some of the job cuts will occur through attrition.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Finance Minister Tom Marshall said he was told of the job cuts on Friday. Marshall said the mill’s survival will have to involve co-operation. “Involving the workers, involving the government, involving the company— they are going have to all take steps together to make this a low-cost mill and one that can survive and make a profit in the future.”

The Western Star is reporting that the unions have not yet been officially notified of the job cuts, but that notification will occur on Tuesday.

Five years ago the mill was operating four paper machines. One machine was shut down indefinitely in November 2007, and another in October 2009. The mill is currently operating the remaining two paper machines and employs 500 people.

Unionized workers in the mill are already waiting to be repaid a 10% deferral in wages they agreed to in 2010. The agreement was that the deferred wages would be paid back when the paper mill returned to profitability.

Read more:
Big job losses at mill: sources (The Western Star)
Co-operation between government, Kruger and union key to Corner Brook Pulp and Paper’s future: finance minister (The Telegram)

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is providing $4.3 million dollars to help the 450 workers at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper upgrade their skills.

The hope is the training will improve the mill’s competitiveness in the global market.

“We are grateful to the provincial government for supporting our efforts to invest in employee training,” said Stéphane Rousseau, vice president and general manager, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited. “Not only will it have a positive impact on our competitiveness, but our employees will benefit from expanding their long-term employability.”

The training will cover approximately 450 employees across all departments and job categories over 3 years. The training will cover technological knowledge, mechanical skills, information technology training, as well as management skills.

“Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is one of the most recognizable and long-standing employers on the west coast of the province,” Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment said today in Corner Brook. “The provincial government is proud to support the company’s efforts to better align its workforce to meet the ever-changing global marketplace. This project will also ensure long-term sustainability of jobs in the Corner Brook region.”

Read more:
N.L. paper mill gets $4.3 million from province to upgrade worker’s skills (The Canadian Press)
Funding to provide enhanced training to mill employees (The Telegram)
Global Markets Putting the Squeeze on Paper Mill (VOCM)