Union Rejects Appleton Contract Proposal, Reiterates Readiness to Bargain

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.sunherald.com/447/story/475082.html

Posted on Tue, Apr. 08, 2008

By United Steelworkers (USW)

PITTSBURGH, April 8, 2008 --
The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that about 400 members of its local 10-0422 at Appleton Paper's Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania mill have rejected the company's latest "last, best and final" contract proposal by an overwhelming margin and called on management to stop stalling in negotiations.

"Management's aggressive attack on the worker-owners of Appleton is disturbing. The health care proposal is among the very worst ever seen in the industry and potentially jeopardizes the health and economic security of our members," said USW International Vice President Jon Geenen. "Management must focus on the long term viability of the company instead of hiding behind short-sighted, insulting, take-it-or-leave-it concessionary proposals if this company is to have a strong future."

"We are now calling on Appleton management to stop its unfair and illegal bargaining practices and negotiate in good faith with our union," he said.

Geenen said that the union finds Appleton management's drive to gut employee and retiree healthcare programs especially disingenuous, considering the lavish compensation, benefits and multimillion-dollar "golden parachute" separation agreements enjoyed by the company's top officers.

"Fairness and dignity on the shop floor and security in retirement aren't mere words to our members," Geenen said. "They're why our union exists and what we'll keep fighting for at Appleton and every other workplace in North America."

The USW represents more than 850,000 workers in a wide array of industries throughout the United States and Canada, including approximately 1,500 hourly production and maintenance employees at Appleton Paper facilities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and Kansas.

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)