Catalyst Paper - a bully?

Union officials are accusing Catalyst Paper of trying to bully and intimidate workers and their families in relation to the company's 'fresh start' proposal to restart the Elk Falls mill.

The Elk Falls mill has been down for 15 months. Catalyst Paper wants workers to approve a new concessionary contract in order to help restart the mill by September.

Catalyst Paper is proposing a 5 year agreement with a base rate of $20.50 an hour and a profit-sharing plan of up to $15,000 per employee per year IF Catalyst returns to profitability.

The union (CEP) says the proposed wage rates, particularly for trades and other skilled workers, are simply too low to attract workers away from better-paying jobs elsewhere.

The union says Catalyst Paper wants to win concessions from its longest-idled workers in Campbell River in order to force those concessions on its other mills in Powell River, Port Alberni and Crofton.

Source:

Catalyst denies being a bully