GRAND RAPIDS, Minnesota (From news reports) -- There is no fresh paper rolling out of UPM Blandin in Grand Rapids as hourly workers went on strike at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 15.
Workers walked out and production at the paper mill ceased due to the Teamsters Local No. 346 strike, which was authorized Friday amid contract negotiations with management.
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.
"If you spend too much time at work, all you think about is not being at work," Oveson said. "And the next thing, someone's hurt."
According to Oveson, union members recently rejected an offer from the company and were told negotiations wouldn't continue until August.
"The members were very clear that if they're not high enough on the employers' priority list to bargain with, that providing labor was something they weren't interested in," Oveson said during a phone interview Saturday. "So until the employer is prepared to bargain a fair contract with us, we will be withholding our labor."
Employees are frustrated due to the recent history of reductions in the mill's production, he said.
"Every time we went into bargain, there was always a dark cloud associated with contract negotiations," Oveson said. "So the members here have been going backwards for a very long time."
Oveson said employees would remain on strike as long as it takes.
In a statement, a UPM North America spokesperson confirmed the mill's production was stopped because of the strike.
"The Company is committed to engaging in the negotiation process with the Teamsters Local 346 membership. We remain hopeful that we can move forward and reach an agreement," according to the statement.
The company did not address any of the specific claims made by union representatives.
According to UPM's website, UPM Blandin employs 230 people and produces 230,000 metric tons of coated magazine and catalog paper each year. Oveson said 166 of those employees are union members.
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.
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