Tembec Workers Receive 'Gift' from Convention

On September 1, Tembec in Pine Falls locked out their approximately 280 workers, most members of United Steelworkers Local 3-1375, some members of COPE. Local Union president Cam Sokoloski and a few of the locked out workers traveled from Pine Falls to Brandon to update convention delegates on the situation in that dispute.

He explained that essentially, the company is attempting to gut their collective agreements, demanding a 25 per cent cut in wages and reductions of 10 to 15 per cent in benefits and pensions. During the lockout, the workers are unable to collect Employment Insurance benefits. To add insult to injury, last year the CEO of Tembec, Jim Lopez, received a $471,000 bonus. If he retires tomorrow, he'll receive a pension of $25,000 per month.

The union is currently in non-binding arbitration with the company but the company's refusal to budge on their position has forced the two sides to go to binding arbitration. As the dispute drags on, it is starting to impose financial hardship on the workers and the community and general.

Sokoloski told delegates that any support – financial or moral – that the MFL could provide would be greatly appreciated. Members of all the unions attending the MFL Convention were urged to try and find time to make the drive to Pine Falls and show their support for the locked out workers. On the financial front, the MFL announced that it would make a $2,000 contribution to the workers. Other unions also stepped up to help out the Tembec workers – MGEU with a $5,000 donation – Building Trades $4,000 – and UFCW Local 832 $2,000.

Individual delegates were also asked to make a contribution and bags were passed around the auditorium. When the bags were emptied and the money counted, over $4,800 had been collected from the pockets of convention delegates. The money was immediately presented to the workers from Tembec by the MFL's Fran Oswald and Winnipeg Labour Council president Larry Pelzer.