Woodland Pulp Workers in Baileyville Vote to Authorize Strike

USW Local 27 members at the Woodland Pulp mill in Baileyville havevoted 92 percent to reject the company’s contract offer and to authorize a strike. The company has refused to budge on members’ demands for wage adjustments to reflect the increasing cost of living. The voting took place by in-person ballot on December 6 and 7 with 85 percent of members voting. The union will now provide the required 10-day notice to the company so the strike could commence the week of December 19.

“The wages and benefits we are requesting are not unreasonable and are necessary for us to keep up with inflation. If I felt that our demands were excessive, I would be the first to stand before the membership and say so,” said USW Local 27 President Shawn Howland. “These negotiations have left us feeling unappreciated and unvalued, considering the hard work and resilience our members showed during COVID 19 pandemic. Our production numbers are at an all-time high, largely due to the efforts of the hourly employees here at Woodland.”

Union leaders noted that Woodland Pulp received roughly $6.7 million in federal PPP loans during the COVID 19 pandemic and all of it was forgiven. However, the mill never closed due to the pandemic and USW 27 members were forced to take time off without pay when they or their family members tested positive for COVID-19.

“We dutifully went into work at the mill every day, at risk to our families and ourselves. While company management was able to work from home, one of our members died of COVID-19 following a coronavirus outbreak at the mill,” Howland continued. “USW 27 members have sacrificed a lot during the past few years and the workers deserve to be compensated fairly for their hard work and dedication.”

“We understand that the company has offered good general wage increases for the paper industry and in a normal year our members would take it,” said Mike Higgins, USW labor representative. “But inflation is really eating into their paychecks and we know the company is adjusting its prices for inflation. Local 27 members just want to make sure they don’t fall behind.”