IAM 2740 Union Millwrights, Machinists & Mechanics Ratify Sappi Contract with Industry-Leading Wage Increases

An overwhelming majority of millwrights, machinists and mechanics with the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 2740 have voted to ratify a new contract with the Sappi Somerset mill in Skowhegan that includes some of the highest wage increases in the paper industry. The members of Local 2740 previously voted 97 percent to reject a contract offer from the company and authorize a strike on January 14. The workers voted to ratify the revised contract offer on Thursday, January 23.

After the workers demanded more competitive wages and a better work-life balance, the company eventually came back to the table with an offer that includes some of the highest wages in the paper industry and improvements to the company’s mandatory overtime policy.

“IAM Local 2740 members at Sappi were very clear that they wanted fair wages, a better work-life balance and better treatment for the important work they do.The company kept saying ‘We’re tying to stay within industry standards’ and the workers said, ‘No we want industry leading standards.’ So when they came back to us with a new offer they said, ‘You now have industry leading standards,'” said IAM Union District 4 Business Representative Chris Wiers.“It’s a testament to the strength and determination of of IAM Local 2740 that these workers came out of negotiations with industry leading wages. We want to thank the bargaining committee for all their hard work and the rank and file union members who stuck together in solidarity during these difficult negotiations.”

Highlights of the new contract include:

• Industry leading wage standards - A $2 dollar wage adjustment (roughly 5 percent increase for workers on average), plus pay increases of 4 percent in year one, 3.5 percent in year two and 3 percent in year three.
• Improvements to mandatory overtime policy — previously the company could draft workers to work mandatory overtime on the weekend before a vacation started on Monday. This meant workers were often traveling to their vacation destination when called back to work. The new contract requires the company to give notice to Local 2740 members of mandatory weekend overtime by 3pm on Fridays.
• Improved retirement contributions — increased flexibility and match percentages in workers’ 401k plans.
• Increase in vacation time
• No change to the employee health care plan