Community, union leaders rally behind Bowater and forestry industry

The Brooklyn plant workers also received the media support they were hoping for. The plant is closing from June 6 to July 16, which represents the third shut-down of the year.

Workers were set up on Highway 3 but near the Bowater gates. They carried placards in addition to letters residents signed that will be sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper as part of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada national Wake Up Harper campaign. Brian Godfrey represented Bowater at a rally in Ottawa today (June 2). The union is asking for support for the forestry industry as a whole. Examples include commercial loans for viable mills, guaranteeing pension plans, and matching recent American tax credits.

CEP Local 141 president, Courtney Wentzell said this day was more about workers in the forestry industry as a whole, not just the Brooklyn plant. The numbers provided are staggering. A sign at the Union Hall, where a gathering was held after the peaceful information picket, reads the industry lost 75,000 jobs in all forestry sectors from 2003 to 2009 and 55,000 jobs during the past two years.

Don Fisher, past president of Local 259, said the Bowater closings are difficult not only financially, but morally as well, “especially for the young workers. Every time we take down-time we wonder if it’s going to start up again. It’s very hard.”

He added most employees don’t believe AbitibiBowater is considering the future and that it’s sad to see young people leaving for other jobs. “That’s our future. Our future is leaving.” Union members have frequently stated the mill is profitable and efficient.

A big concern is pensions. Right now, provincial legislation protects the pension plan but some employees and former employees are still worried.

Retired Bowater employee David Huskins, who is the Local 259 representative on the Labour Council of the South Shore and Nova Scotia Federation of Union Retirees, said he is concerned the fund will be taken if Bowater goes bankrupt like its parent company. The Brooklyn plant isn’t under bankruptcy protection because of The Washington Post Company Ltd. 49 per cent ownership position. Huskins said, “At my age, where would I find a job?”

In general, the union is comfortable with the Nova Scotia legislation but members are worried it might be changed at some point in the future.

Riding of Queens Progressive Conservative candidate Kerry Morash said the legislation would protect workers under a worst-case scenario. Morash said he double-checked this with the Superintendent of Pensions. Even if under funded, which it isn’t, any sale of assets would be used to protect the pension plan, he said.

Morash added buying $26-million worth of Bowater land in 2006 worked out well in terms of protecting valuable lands while providing Bowater with a cash infusion. He said he believes some of this money was used to buy the Brooklyn Energy biomass steam and electricity plant. He added $2.7-million in loan guarantees have been provided to Freeman Lumber in Greenfield to protect jobs at the mill with the added benefit of providing more chips to Bowater.

He said discussions with Bowater and other sectors of the troubled forestry industry are ongoing. “The province has been good to the paper mill and the paper mill has been good to the province.” He added he worked at Bowater for 18 years and was heartened by the community support shown to workers.

Both Union Local presidents echoed this sentiment.

Retiree Atwood Dexter said the plan is well funded and would be left untouched by any bankruptcy proceedings.

He added, “I honestly believe the Nova Scotia government won’t let the mill close.” He said the ice-free harbour, good wood supply, modern plant and “best kind of employees” are just some of the reasons for his optimism. “Our mill is far superior to those that are running right now.” He said politics explains why it doesn’t continue to operate. He explained the Quebec government is supporting the company through loan guarantees while Nova Scotia isn’t doing much.

CEP Local 259 President Steve Kennedy agreed the situation is “hard. We don’t know what is going to happen.” He said he doesn’t want to speculate about AbitibiBowater’s plans for the mill except to say he is suspicious about recent decisions. He and others added they have spouses and families to support.

Now, he said he is concerned about the rising Canadian dollar. “Everybody is worried about whether or not they’ll have a job. Being down five (weeks), then up, then down again; well, it plays on people’s minds.”

Riding of Queens New Democratic Party candidate, Vicki Conrad said she wants to ensure the pension legislation is worded strongly enough. She said the party’s leader, Darrell Dexter has stated he wants to sit down with both employees and management to listen to their solutions. She added she and Dexter want to access federal recession dollars to help the mill.

In terms of wishing, she said the unclear future is difficult for all stakeholders.

Conrad said today was significant because the community realizes how important Bowater is to both Queens Co. and the province. “We have to stay strong as a community and stand behind the workforce.”

Nova Scotia Federation of Labour president, Rick Clarke said he fears too many viable plants in all sectors of the forestry industry will close and leave Nova Scotia and Canada as an exporter of raw materials when the recession ends. He said well paying manufacturing jobs are obviously more valuable to the economy.

The forestry industry, in particular, is “a major, major employee.” He said he believes the provincial and federal governments have done little to help an industry that is equally important as, for example, the auto industry. In Nova Scotia, he said, “If Michelin got into similar trouble we would trip over ourselves to help them.”

He said the forestry industry isn’t asking for a bail-out, just financing because funding isn’t available through traditional means.

Canadian Labour Congress Atlantic Representative, Tony Tracy agreed employers and government should establish a “serious strategy” before it is too late.

Without help, he said numerous, mostly rural small communities could be devastated. “Most economists would say a good union forestry job provides a spin off of five or six jobs in the community.” Bowater has about 260 union employees.

Wentzell agreed more has to be done. He said families are suffering across all sectors of the industry. When asked, he said one child has just finished university, another is getting married and he and his wife have a 15-year-old at home. “It’s getting really tough (with the shut-downs). I’ve got pogie but it’s not even half of what I take home. It’s serious but I’ll do alright.” He said others are not so fortunate.

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