Company, union exchange ‘fundamentally different’ proposals in Blandin paper mill strike negotiations

GRAND RAPIDS — UPM Blandin and striking Teamsters Union employees met for contract negotiations again Thursday, July 20, but a company spokesperson called the two offers “fundamentally different.”

“We are now going to take the time to review both proposals and consider potential paths to finding an agreement,” according to a UPM Blandin statement Thursday afternoon. “ … The Company remains engaged in and committed to the bargaining process. We are hopeful we can move forward and reach an agreement when negotiations resume.”

Paper mill leadership proposed to resume talks in nearly two weeks on Aug. 2.

The paper mill shut down Saturday and will likely remain shuttered until an agreement is reached to send employees back to work. A total of 166 members of Teamsters Local No. 346 are on strike, accounting for 80% of the plant’s workforce.

Groups of workers continue to picket in several locations in Grand Rapids near UPM Blandin. Teamsters Local No. 346 will have a rally 1-3 p.m. Friday at the paper mill with support from Teamsters Joint Council 32 and Local No. 120, according to a news release.

Teamsters Union President Jeff Oveson said workers are demanding better wages, elimination of a two-tier system of benefits for newer employees and changes to staffing levels. Spiking overtime hours are leading to what Oveson characterized as dangerous working conditions for overtired production workers. Employees are also frustrated due to the recent history of reductions in the mill’s production, he said.

Thursday afternoon, Oveson said he was glad to see the two parties talking but they’re miles apart when it comes to the specifics of the contract.

“We've told them throughout this whole process that we will meet with them any day, any time of the day to bargain an agreement,” Oveson said. “Two weeks is a long time off, but that's kinda par for what the company’s responses have been so far. It just doesn't seem like the contract with their employees really ranks up on their priority list.”

Oveson said while he didn’t want to negotiate with the company through the press, he is disappointed the union’s demand to eliminate the two-tier wages and benefits system is not being considered by mill management.

Contributed

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Tom Cobb

In UPM Blandin’s statement — the most detailed yet since the strike began Saturday morning — the company said this return to the bargaining table comes after the Teamsters’ negotiating team previously agreed to an offer in late June. But the union employees failed to ratify this offer and instead voted to strike.

Oveson, meanwhile, said there was never a tentative agreement on the table between the two parties. He said the company offered a settlement, but the union made clear it wouldn’t agree to anything without some of the major issues being addressed.

“In the end, it’s just our members saying, ‘This isn’t working for us,’” Oveson said. “ … If the company thinks that us voting down an offer is a failure on our part, I beg to differ. It’s actually exactly how our democratic process works. The employees, the members of this local union, are speaking to them, and they’re not hearing us.”

Oveson said employees would remain on strike as long as it takes — but this also means they will not be paid by the company during this time. Members of the Teamsters union receive compensation from a strike fund designated for this purpose.

“It’s not their regular wage, but when you go out on strike, it’s about principle. It’s not about getting rich,” he said. “Our members are strong right now.”

Friday’s rally is expected to draw Teamsters, members of other unions and the public.

“I have to give a shout out to the people of Grand Rapids. The community support has been fantastic,” Oveson said.

In its communications about the strike, the company has not addressed any specific claims made by union leadership.

According to UPM’s website, UPM Blandin employs 230 people and produces 230,000 metric tons of coated magazine and catalog paper each year. It's one of the largest producers of this type of paper in North America.

Oveson said this is the first strike ever authorized by Teamsters union members at the mill, which has been a major employer and central feature of the city of Grand Rapids since 1901.