Corner Brook Pulp & Paper workers are not rushing to negotiate

The unionized workers at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper in Newfoundland are not rushing to negotiate a new contract.

The workers have been without a collective agreement for over a year.

Traditionally, the workers (represented by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) union) fall under the pattern bargaining trend set by AbitibiBowater.

Why aren't the Corner Brook workers eager to copy AbitibiBowater's lead?

Well simply because AbitibiBowater is in the midst of a restructuring attempt, is under bankruptcy protection, and its collective agreement contains language to maintain all current pensions and accrued pension service making the entire contract conditional on government approval in Quebec and Ontario.

Oh, and that it includes a 10% wage reduction with a wage deferral, similar to the wage deferral that the Corner Brook workers already voted to accept earlier this year.

Gary Healey, CEP’s national representative in Newfoundland and Labrador, said there is no harm in waiting to see what happens with the pension issue before negotiations with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper advance beyond the low-level talks that have been going on for some time.

Read more:

No pressure to dive headlong into negotiations: mill union (The Western Star)