Fraser, unions strike tentative deal
Representatives of the United Steelworkers Union and Fraser Papers Inc. reached a tentative contract agreement yesterday, a day after a Fraser official said failure to reach an agreement could mean the closure of the company's Madawaska mill.
The tentative agreement will be presented to the 460 workers of USW Locals 365, 291 and 1247, though union representatives said they were "not enchanted" with the contract's details, according to the Bangor Daily News. USW international representative Duane Lugdon told the paper the contract was "more equitable," and spoke out against Fraser Human Resources Director Bill Peterson's claims that the mill would close unless local workers agreed to a contract that included $4 million in concessions. "The public has been misled, not necessarily by the comments, but they have been led to believe that the union workers would make a decision to in effect quit their jobs if they don't vote for this contract," he told the paper. Neither side gave specifics on the deal.
Reaching a contract with the union is one of the conditions needed in order for Toronto-based Fraser Papers to sell its specialty paper business, including the Madawaska mill, and fulfill its bankruptcy restructuring plan.
Go to the article from the Bangor Daily News >>
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