MeadWestvaco negotiations tense
An offer by the MeadWestvaco paper mill plant in Cottonton was rejected by members of three unions during negotiations late last week.
However, a worker strike had yet to occur as of Monday, according to Alison von Puschendorf, director of public relations.
“They have not walked off the job by any means. They have not issued a 48-hour strike notice,” she said Friday. “The offer was rejected last night. However, we are re-voting on Monday.” Results of the vote were not available by press deadline.
The offer proposed to union workers Thursday is part of a current contract with MeadWestvaco.
“The average straight-time rate for Mahrt’s hourly employees is in excess of $25 per hour and the average annual salary, including overtime, for Mahrt’s hourly employees is in excess of $73,000,” said von Puschendorf in a press release. “MWV’s offer also increases pension by 16 percent to $50 per month for each year of service over the life of the agreement. … The proposed plan increases the company-paid portion of the insurance premium from 75 percent to 80 percent, lowering the employee’s share from 25 percent to 20 percent.”
Three unions are participating in the negotiations: Local 1972 Maintenance, Local 1471 Pulp and Local 971 Paper.
Read more on this story in the midweek edition of The Tribune avaliable Tuesday (Nov. 11).
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Reader Reactions
I LIVE IN EUFAULA AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT MEAD HAVE THE HIGHEST PAYING JOB’S HERE.THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF WORK AND LOOSING THEIR HOMES AND THESE PEOPLE NEED A REALITY CHECK SO THAT THEY CAN THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS FOR WHAT THEY HAVE.
Let’s all have a good cry for these POOR mead wokers!! With greedy people like them, no wonder every thing is so high that the average woker can’t make it week to week. I hope you do strike. For every one that strikes there are about 5 people that are willing to take your place. Let ‘em go Mead. Get rid of the union. It won’t take long to rehire a new crew and you won’t have to worry about another strike.
The Mead spokesperson is correct not lying. The premiums are how much we pay out of our checks for insurance. And we will pay much less. The poster (gateway) is referring to the co-insurance %‘s. Dr. visits have co-pays, everthing else is co-insurance….like lab work or an MRI. that will go from 90% to 80%.
These workers are the highest paid in the area. They have it made! There are plenty of “scabs” ready to take their jobs. Greed only gets you so far.
Why is the Director of Public Relations lying? Now this top company has to lie to make themselves look good. This blows my mind. Mead wants to lower the companies’ insurance premiums from 90% to 80% and raise the workers insurance premiums from 10% to 20%. Please go ask them woman why are they lying. Greed is a sin & so is lying. This is what’s wrong with our country…sorry dang mega rich folks don’t mind lying, stealing or cheating their way to the top. Who cares about the workers who make the money for you. We need Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton down here fighting for the right of the slaves at Mead.
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