By Carol Martin
SooToday.com
Tuesday, March 13, 2007

All four unions representing employees of St. Marys Paper Ltd. were at the table yesterday to inform their members that no deal was reached in mediation and to expect the worst.

Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Union of Canada Regional Representative Fred Bond told employees gathered at the Holiday Inn that he and the other union representatives were shocked at the company's latest offer.

He also said that the unions are doing their due diligence to try to find a buyer for the mill and would continue to do so even long after it closes its doors, as the union believes will likely now happen.

Bond said that St. Marys Paper employees have already made more concessions than any others in the forestry industry and have nothing left to give.

"It's clear from our members' reaction that they wouldn't have even considered what the company sent back to us," he said. "We are as close to the end as it's going to get without the mill actually going down."

The full text of CEP's statement follows:

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St. Marys Paper has to step up to the plate to save Soo jobs, says CEP

Sault Ste. Marie - Union representatives at St. Marys Paper Ltd. are in a state of shock at the reaction of the company to a government-assisted resolution to the company pension plan problems which workers were told was the key to saving the mill here.

"Once again the employer has moved the goal posts on us," said Fred Bond, national representative with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada.

"We simply do not understand the company's position because we have agreed to adjustments to the St. Marys pension plan that will not require any regulatory change and presented that solution to the employer. Just as we thought we had saved these important jobs in our community, the company is asking for more concessions that will reduce the security of our pensions," Mr. Bond said.

CEP Ontario Region Vice President Cecil Makowski called the company position irresponsible in the face of what he termed an innovative and imaginative solution to the pension funding issue.

"The workers have done more than their part to keep these jobs in the Soo," Mr. Makowski said. "St. Marys ownership and management have to now step up to the plate and do their part as well."

"We want to recognize our members' commitment to this mill by going in every day during this trying time. They meet production requirements and take pride in the product they produce as quality is excellent and customer satisfaction is way up.

We are not totally satisfied that our employer appreciates these dedicated employees and the sacrifices they have made as partners in this mill.

Our members are extremely disappointed and disillusioned with their employer at this time," commented Fred Bond.

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