Local 14 Solidarity Center Features Photos of Otis Mill Workers

Work on educational programming and the restoration of the Local 14 Union Hall is going strong, according to the Agitator, the Local 14 Solidarity Center newsletter. At week's Tuesday morning meeting the group reviewed pictures taken at the Otis Mill in 1991 by photographer Guy Saldanha, who has spent decades documenting traditional manufacturing industries in Maine and across the country. The group also watched and discussed David Riker's documentary about the 1987-88 International Paper Strike titled “Many Faces of Paper."
 

In this 1991 photo taken by Guy Saldanha at the Otis Mill, Wendy Wing and Steve Richards prepare a reel for the Supercalendar. Both worked at this mill until closure in 2008/2009. Steve was a member of United Paperworkers International Union (UPIU) Local 11, which became United Steel-workers (USW) Local 11, for nearly 30 years. Wendy became a member of UPIU Local 14 at the Androscoggin Mill a few months before the Jay Strike of 1987. She went to work at the Otis during that time and never went back. The Supercalendars are a vertical series of steel and "cotton" rolls that give the paper a high gloss finish. The Otis Mill was located on the Androscoggin River at the Jay/ Livermore Falls town line.
 

If you are interested in the work of the Local 14 Solidarity Center and want to help or just join the group for coffee and discussions of the history of paper mill workers come by the Solidarity Center (6 Intervale Rd, Jay). between 9:30 and Noon any Tuesday. If you’re interested in visiting, lending a hand, or learning more about the project, please reach out to Linda Deane sterlin at roadrunner dot com (207)-491-8168 or Peter Kellman at kellman3333 at gmail dot comor (207) 676-3356 (landline—no texts).