Sappi Workers (USW 4-9) Ratify New Contract that Addresses Forced Overtime, Improves Health Insurance & Vacation Time

Workers at the Sappi paper mill in Skowhegan last week ratified a new three-year contract that provides pay raises, addresses forced overtime and improves vacation time and health insurance. The overwhelming vote follows months of tense negotiations as workers voted down two of the company’s previous offers.

“You’re not going to make everyone happy, but a huge majority voted to accept this contract,” said Justin Shaw, President of USW 4-9. “A lot of the work starts now in getting the language implemented and changing the culture at the mill.”

The new contract includes wage increases of 4 percent, 3.5 percent and 3 percent with a $1500 lump sum payment. The workers also won some new language to address forced overtime. Sappi workers have been battling with the company over its abuse of mandatory overtime, which was forcing workers to work 24-hour shifts with only the state-mandated day off every two weeks to spend time with their families. Shaw said one of the major reasons there was so much forced overtime is because workers were so behind on their training. He said that new language in the contract will focus on getting workers on schedule with training.

“Training is a focus now, so hopefully in the next year or two we’ll be in a pretty good spot,” said Shaw

The workers also defeated the companies attempt to replace the employee health plan with a co-insurance plan that would require them to continue paying 10 percent of health care costs after reaching the deductible to a higher out-of-pocket limit. The new contract will allow them to hold onto their current health care plan.

“That was a big one that we hadn’t been able to get the last couple of ratification votes,” said Shaw. “We had a rate hold through 2025, so we could keep it through 2025, but in 2026 it was unknown so we knew we were headed to a 90/10 plan.”

The workers also beat back a company proposal to subtract earned paid time off from vacation time. Under the new contract, they will continue to be able to take vacation time unpaid or at reduced pay, depending on how much earned time off they use.