Resolute, CEP Agree on Manning of PM 7 at Fort Frances
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Locals 92 and 306 of the Communications Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Union, Ottawa, Ont., Canada, and Resolute Forest Products‘ (Montreal, Que.) reached an agreement for manning Resolute's Fort Frances Division No. 7 paper machine for up to 8-12 weeks starting yesterday, Wednesday, July 17. Resolute had laid off almost 240 staff and unionized employees in Fort Frances, Ont., on February 14 due to curtailment of the kraft mill and one paper machine.
CEP National Representative Stephen Boon said that "we are pleased to see more than 40 CEP members in Fort Frances get recalled for up to two or three months when No. 7 paper machine restarted, but some serious concerns arose due to the temporary nature of this recall. Resolute required the manning to run No. 7 machine, but many of our laid off members have also found part-time and full-time alternate employment since February while waiting to see how the Fort Frances operations might be repositioned over the next year.
Boon added that "we could not agree to force a laid off member to quit a new job to come back to the mill for temporary work and so through ongoing discussions with Resolute, both CEP Locals have now negotiated a recall protocol for manning the No. 7 paper machine that not only confirms all provisions of the contract apply for this re-start, but it also ensures the recall option for our laid off members is voluntary and does not negatively impact their seniority, future recall rights, or severance entitlements.
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