Workers were told if they went on strike the mill would not be started up again once it shut down.

BREWER (AP) – Union workers have decided not to go on strike at Eastern Fine Paper Co.

PACE Local No. 1-403 had been told by the paper company that if it went on strike, the mill would not be started up again once it was shut down.

At stake would be the jobs of 182 union workers and another 50 salaried employees.

“The company has told us that if there was a strike, the mill would be shut down,” said Duane Lugdon, PACE’s international representative. “I’m happy to report that we don’t have to think about that now.”

The closure threat was real, said mill manager Doug Walsh.

“Our intent is to run the Brewer mill,” Walsh said. “The strike could have changed our decision on whether to run Brewer.”

PACE and Eastern Fine, which has been under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for more than three years, had been in secret contract negotiations for more than two weeks.

On Friday, almost three-fourths of the union membership voted, with 62 percent deciding against a strike.

“It’s tough times,” said Dennis Townsend, a 27-year Eastern Fine employee. “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that paper jobs are hard to come by.”

A contract proposal had been turned down Monday but Friday’s no-strike vote has the effect of affirming the contract.

“We have a three-year contract, which under the union’s constitution is an accepted contract,” Lugdon said.

Union workers will not receive a pay increase during the first year, Walsh said. During the second year, wages will go up 2 percent, and during the third, 2.5 percent.

Eastern Fine is owned by Eastern Pulp and Paper Co., based in Amherst, Mass. Eastern Pulp also owns Lincoln Pulp and Paper Co. in Lincoln.

Copy the Story Link