Catalyst Paper workers vote on breaking their collective agreement

The CEP union members at Catalyst Paper voted yesterday on whether they should break their valid collective agreement.

The workers' current contract expires in 2012 and applies to all five Catalyst shops.

Catalyst Paper has approached the union to discuss contract concessions.

“Right now, I believe our members aren’t in any mood to entertain any changes,” Fraser McQuarrie, president of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 1132, said. “We’ve contributed millions of dollars in labour reduction costs even under the current agreement.”

Catalyst Paper is looking at wage reductions and rollbacks to improve their mill's financial results.

Results of the vote are not yet known.

Sources:

Catalyst union to vote (Alberni Valley News)

Catalyst approaches union about contract concessions aimed at cutting costs (Ladysmith Chronicle)