GRAND RAPIDS — It will be three weeks before the UPM Blandin paper mill resumes operations, the company reported Monday, Aug. 21.
In an emailed statement, a company spokesperson said the company is planning to restart operations the week of Sept. 11 at the Grand Rapids plant — eight weeks after a strike by Teamsters Local No. 346 shut it down.
“The actual timeframe in which operations will run depends on customer orders,” according to the statement. “The Company is still working to re-establish its order book affected by the short-notice strike which began on July 15 and concluded earlier this month.
“The Company looks forward to having everyone return to work.”
The monthlong strike — the first in the mill's history — ended Aug. 11 when union employees voted to approve a tentative agreement with company leadership. The previous contract expired June 30. Teamsters Local No. 346 represents 166 employees at UPM Blandin Paper.
The three-year contract provided employees with industry competitive pay and benefits, the company stated. The agreement includes year-over-year wage increases and year-over-year increases to shift differential. It also provides benefit enhancements in areas including paid time off and health savings account contributions.
