US+Steelworkers+in+mutual+support+and+action+with+SA+TU,+CEPPWAWU

CORRECTED NEWS RELEASE: Steelworkers pledge mutual support, action with South African trade union to change Sappi’s anti-worker practices




 * FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
 * May 16, 2006**


 * Contact: Lynne Baker, USW communications, (615) 831-6782, (cell) 615/828-6169**

=Steelworkers pledge mutual support, action with South African trade union to change Sappi’s anti-worker practices=


 * Pittsburgh, Pa.—**The United Steelworkers union (USW) and the South African Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood & Allied Workers union (CEPPWAWU) pledged mutual support in meeting their members’ needs, achieving mutual goals and taking concrete steps to change Sappi’s labor practices.

“We’re bound and determined to change how Sappi treats its workers, and that takes global solidarity among its unions,” said USW President Leo W. Gerard. “Our solidarity will show Sappi that it’s far more beneficial to work with us than against us. Together, we could help the company meet the competitive demands of the paper industry that it’s putting at risk by its anti-worker practices.”

Instead of negotiating fair contracts at each of its US facilities in Westbrook and Skowhegan, Maine, Muskegon, Mich., and Cloquet, Minn., Sappi is resisting the USW’s demands for decent wages and benefits for all Sappi employees. At some locations, Sappi is actually demanding concessions in health care, pensions and pay.

In South Africa, the CEPPWAWU is fighting for greater access to better jobs at Sappi. The company is failing to train blue-collar workers for higher skilled jobs, and is showing an unwillingness to hire black workers for positions requiring greater skill or responsibility. In addition, it has refused to equalize salaries between managers and workers and recognize the union as the bargaining agent for maintenance and white-collar workers.

Sappi also is trying to impose a health and safety model that takes a “blame the worker” approach across all of its facilities in North America, southern Africa and Europe.

“Sappi has a choice to make: It can either work with us to help improve its profit position, or it can continue down the path it’s on and struggle for survival,” said Dick LaCosse, USW international vice president and head of the union’s national paper bargaining program.

The USW represents over 1,300 workers at Sappi’s four mills and a paper converting and distribution facility in Allentown, Pa. Total USW membership numbers 850,000 workers, and the union represents employees in industries ranging from pulp and paper to steel and aluminum, oil, chemical, pharmaceutical and health care.

=Joint Statement=


 * of United Steel, Paper & Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial & Service Workers International Union (USW)**


 * and Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood & Allied Workers Union (CEPPWAWU)**

Throughout the world ruthless corporations scheme to reduce the living standards of workers wherever they set up operations. Regardless of their base of operations these entities have no concern for family or community or country; they have only one loyalty – money.

One such company is Sappi, Ltd. (known during the Apartheid era as South African Pulp & Paper Industries, Ltd.), a paper company based in the Republic of South Africa, and operating plants in South Africa, Europe and the United States. Sappi has in many ways disgraced itself with its shameful treatment of workers on all three continents.

Our two unions represent the majority of Sappi’s blue-collar workers in the United States and South Africa.

In South Africa, Sappi has persisted with echoes of South Africa’s racist past, failing in its obligation to train blue-collar workers for higher skilled jobs, and continues an unwillingness to hire black workers for positions requiring greater skill or having higher responsibility.

Sappi has refused to equalize salaries between managers and workers, and has refused to accept the union’s representation of maintenance and white-collar workers, in spite of the wishes of these workers to join CEPPWAWU.

In the United States, Sappi tries to cut into the health benefits and pension rights of workers, and continues its attempt to cut workers’ take-home pay. It persists in trying to offer different terms of agreement to USW members at different mills, in spite of the workers’ clear common interest.

All over the world Sappi works to impose a failed health and safety model on the workers.

Because of Sappi’s unwillingness to work constructively with workers, it is unable to be successful on its own terms – it is more and more unable to turn a profit.

In North America, Sappi suffers from high turnover at all levels of the corporation. Everywhere, Sappi’s unfair tactics and high-handed ways make it difficult for the workers who remain.

For these reasons our two unions pledge strong mutual support in our efforts to meet the needs of our members at Sappi, and pledge to take strong concrete steps at all levels of our unions to realize our mutual goals and to change Sappi’s harmful practices.

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