Thursday, November 17, 2011

Resolute Forest Products

Members of CEP Local 141 and 259 at Bowater Mersey voted to accept the latest proposal from Resolute Forest Products - formally Abitibi Bowater - which includes massive job cuts.

In total, 51.7 percent of those who cast a ballot, voted in favour of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the company.

It means 110 employees at the mill along Nova Scotia's South Shore are going to lose their job. That includes 80 full time and 30 casual positions. The reduction of the workforce represents almost half of the union's membership and will leave 128 workers left to operate the mill.

Union President Courtney Wentzell was clearly dejected and emotional as he delivered the news to a handful of his co-workers and union members at the union hall in Brooklyn on Wednesday night.

No word on when negotiations between the company and union will commence. Wentzell didn't take any questions or reveal how many of the union's 228 members voted but he said turnout was solid.