SKOWHEGAN, Maine — Union activists and members of USW 4-9 rallied Tuesday in Somerset County to speak out about current working conditions and fight for a fair contract with the Sappi Paper Mill in Skowhegan.
"We're working longer hours, working harder, and having to do more jobs," Shawn Bean, an air filtration specialist for Sappi and member of USW 4-9, said while holding a sign saying "solidarity." "They're making money. We just think we deserve a piece of that, and we want to be heard at the table."
He said he and other union workers fear the new contract agreements proposed by the corporation would not offer fair compensation for additional duties they've taken on and also take away vacation time if an employee has to use paid leave for emergencies or other circumstances.
"You may have flights, hotels, all kinds of rentals, all kinds of money hanging out there, but should life happen, and you need to use your earned paid leave time, that vacation time is gone," President of USW 4-9 Justin Shaw said.
According to Shaw, this would shrink the amount of time they have away from work, which he said employees are already losing because of staffing shortages that are forcing them to sometimes work 24- or even 36-hour shifts.
"All that does is create a scenario where you have one person doing two jobs and that could be running a boiler or digester or something like that where you really need to be paying attention," Shaw said.
In response to USW 4-9's protests, officials with Sappi North America Inc. say they feel they've presented a highly competitive offer. In a statement, Senior Manager for Sappi's Corp Communications Peter Steele said:
"We take exception to the union's characterization of the issues regarding overtime and vacation benefits. We remain hopeful that we will reach an agreement."
While members of USW 4-9 are also hopeful for an agreement, Bean said they're willing to fight for a fair contract as long as it takes to ensure everyone's well-being.
"You do your job because your brothers and sisters work beside you and you want to make sure everyone goes home at the end of the day with all of their fingers and toes, and safe. We look out for each other," Bean said.
Members of USW 4-9 will be meeting with officials from Sappi on Oct. 17 to further discuss contract negotiations.