Mills split on vote to authorize strike

SKOWHEGAN – Union workers at the Sappi Fine Paper North America paper mill in Skowhegan voted down a strike-authorization proposal on Monday, but workers at the Sappi mill in Westbrook voted in favor of the proposal.

At the same time, union employees at the Sappi mill in Muskegon, Mich., approved a strike-authorization vote, but workers at Sappi’s other North American mill in Cloquet, Minn., rejected the proposal, company officials said.

Although the outcomes were different at the mills, union leaders said they still have the same goal: To negotiate contracts without a strike.

“We’re going to try to get the company to make a better offer,” said Brian Wade, president of USW Local 1069 in Westbrook, which has 172 members.

Union contracts have expired at all the mills, but not at the same time. At the Sappi Somerset mill in Skowhegan, which is the largest of the four mills, the six-year contract expired Feb. 1, 2003, according to the union.

Jeffrey Pina, a Sappi spokesman, said the company was disappointed by the votes in Westbrook and Muskegon and has been doing its part to complete contract negotiations.

In Skowhegan, the mood was somber but positive at the union hall Monday evening following the vote.

“We intend on continuing negotiations with this company and we’re very encouraged by the level of participation by our members,” said Rod Hiltz, president of USW Local No. 4-9.

Hiltz and Wade would not discuss what the sticking issues are at the bargaining table.

The vote tallies at the mills were unavailable.