Monday Morning Minute - USW Paper Sector
Monday, May 15, 2017
Union Work – Collective Bargaining, Organizing, Arbitration, Worker Rights,
Community Work, Political Work, Labor History
Tell Congress NO on Comp Time – The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to pass
the misleadingly-named “Working Families Flexibility Act” (H.R. 1180/S. 801). This bill would
replace our guaranteed overtime pay system with a new “comp time” alternative. Check out this
link for how your Representative voted: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll244.xml
This legislation is a real problem. It changes our nearly 80-year system of overtime that
discourages employers from overworking us by making it more expensive to do so. From your
stories you’ve been sharing, we know that many employers are already attempting to squeeze
every dollar of profit from us in every way they can. Comp time gives them even more
opportunities. That’s why business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are backing it.
There are ways to make our workplaces more flexible and family-friendly. This is not one of
them.
This “comp time” bill now moves to the Senate where we have a greater chance of
stopping it. Copy and paste the following link into your browser for more information and what
you
can
do
to
help
stop
the
bill
from
passing:
http://images.usw.org/download/rapid/ActionCall_Comp_Time_Updated.pdf
Safety
FM Data Sheet on Storage of Wood Chips – Factory Mutual Insurance Company released
data sheets on the hazards associated with the storage of wood chips, sawdust and other wood
waste material. While the data sheet was written in the interest of minimizing property loss due
to wood chip combustion, the recommendations for storage could be beneficial to safety in the
paper industry especially in light of the recent fatality at Verso’s Luke, MD mill woodyard.
Identifying hazards could also help to prevent future incidents.
Most pulp and paper mills throughout the world receive all or part of their wood supply as
chips which are stored outdoors. The volume of single large piles may range from 15,000 to
100,000 or more units. Pile heights of 35ft are common but have reached upwards of 160ft.
Multiple piles frequently range from 3,000 to 15,000 units each.
Recommendations include controlling the rate of pile buildup, preferably handling wood
chips on a “first in – first out” basis, and basing storage piles on a maximum turnover time of
one year. Also, limiting outdoor storage piled of good quality to 50 ft in height, 300 ft in width
and 800 ft in length, with no pile exceeding 50,000 units capacity, is recommended.
Please contact Laura Donovan if you are interested in more information contained in the
data sheet.
Industry Update
USW Local 4-276 – Carthage Specialty Paperboard – On April 27th, The Board of Directors
voted to move current CEO, Patrick Purdy, into the position of Executive Chair of the Board.
The new role is effective immediately and leaves the position of CEO open. Carthage Specialty
is currently looking for a new CEO to fill the vacancy.
Tranlin Mill Construction in Virginia is Delayed – The project by Chinese-owned paper
company, Tranlin, also known as Vastly, has been delayed by approximately 2 years. Originally
set to be complete by the year 2020, the opening has been pushed back to 2022 due to new
technologies in which the Company has had unexpected success.
The new technologies include “significant efficiencies that will impact all aspects of
Tranlin’s U.S. business plans” according to Lisa Randall, associate director of corporate
communications for Tranlin. Local newspaper, the Chesterfield Observer, reported that the
company will be redeploying resources as it incorporates the new technology. The current
technology that had been planned for the plant in Chesterfield, VA was called Generation 2.5
Technology. The newer plant being developed in China is using Generation Three Technology
which includes improvements in pulping, paper making and biostimulant fertilizer manufacturing.
The project was set to bring 2,000 jobs to the area and legislators are now concerned
that the new facility will not open. $20 million in economic incentives for the facility came from a
Pulp, Paper and Fertilizer Advanced Manufacturing Grant overseen by the Major Employment
and Investment Commission based on the addition of jobs and investment.
For more information, copy and paste the following link into your browser:
http://www.roanoke.com/news/virginia/questions-mount-as-tranlin-deal-near-richmond-hitsanother-delay/article_d88d20d3-2f67-53d9-a89c-15b43448b131.html
Remember to share Monday Morning Minute in your work place and share your stories
with us. Send your information to Laura Donovan at [email protected].