Monday Morning Minute for April 4, 2016

Monday Morning Minute – USW Paper Sector

Monday, April 4, 2016

Union Work – Collective Bargaining, Organizing, Arbitration, Worker Rights, Community Work, Political Work, Labor History

USW Paper Conference “Stand Up. Speak Out. For Safety” This Week in Pittsburgh! —  We’re very excited to be welcoming over 500 local leaders and International Guests from over 7 countries to Pittsburgh this week.  Local Unions will set the USW Paper Sector bargaining policy for the next 2 years, review our plan to confront increasing fatalities in the industry – Making and Converting Paper Safely – and build on work to save papertowns. Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLsS1haRbyM to be inspired with a song and video by Balsam Range on the importance of papertowns across America. As the video rightly states: They came for the trees…..and found the people were the most valuable resource.

Make sure and follow us on Twitter @steelworkers, and like us on Facebook, to receive updates on the conference. If you are attending the Conference, don’t forget to share your experiences online! Use #USWPaperworkers, #SaveOurPapertowns and @Steelworkers in your social media posts.

Legislative Campaign Update – Maine House District 137 – District 4 Staff Representative, Duane Lugdon, has withdrawn his candidacy for Maine House of Representatives. Taking his place as opponent to anti-union incumbent, Larry Lockman, is Laurie Fogelman – a former probation officer who has also held the position of Director of The Next Step Domestic Violence Project. Believing that unions are the backbone of her state’s economy, she is supportive of labor issues. Laurie is running as a clean election candidate and needs help raising money to qualify as a candidate. Those who live in Maine House District 137 can donate here: https://www5.informe.org/cgi-bin/online/ethics/cleanelection/home.pl. You can also donate money to her seed money account even if you do not live in the district. Checks or money orders can be sent to: PO Box 206, Sullivan, ME 02664

District 2, Local 12075 – Creative Response to Proposed TPP Legislation

Safety

ERT Card Campaign for Local Union Member from USW Local 9-508 – Kapstone Paper and Packaging – Charleston, SC – On October 20, 2015, a fire broke out as local union members, Brian Allen and Chad Classen, were on an elevated man-lift welding an overhead pipe. Brian was not able to get out of his harness and suffered burn injuries over 90% of his body from being restricted over the fire for a lengthy period of time. He was not expected to survive overnight due to internal organs not functioning as needed, but overnight this situation changed to the extent that the hospital was able to perform extensive skin grafting and he has fought back ever since the incident. He remains in the burn unit at the Augusta burn center.

Brian has put up a very strong fight to survive, so much so that his nurses and doctors call him Brian “Strong.”  He appreciates so much cards and thoughts from his fellow Steelworkers and we know he would appreciate hearing from the USW Paper Sector Councils so we have prepared a card for everyone to sign for us to send to him from the Council.

The Allen’s are extremely grateful for all the support and prayers from their Steelworker family.  Kristie and Brian often express how proud and amazed they are to have so many Brothers and Sisters praying for them.     The support and prayers are certainly paying off very well. In the last two weeks, Brian has shown much progress and has become very alert. He has been asking many questions.  Although unable to speak due to feeding tubes and a respirator, Brian has become very proficient at writing words in the air. Part of Brian’s therapy now is sitting on the side of the hospital bed. On Tuesday, Brian not only sat on the side of the bed, but he stood at the side of his bed for the first time since the accident in October. Several nurses in the area broke out in applause.

Brian has come a long way and has a long way to go.   Please continue to keep the Allen family in your thoughts and prayers.   Get well and encouragement cards or notes are very much appreciated. They can be sent to the following hotel address:

Kristie and Brian Allen

c/o Home 2 Suites by Hilton

3606 Exchange Lane, Room 308

Augusta, GA  30909

Industry Update

Mill Closure — USW Local 465 – George A. Whiting Paper – Menasha, WI – One of Wisconsin’s smallest and oldest paper mills closed its doors on March 31, 2016. The Company had been operating since 1882. “In the end, we just couldn’t build the volume of business to be where we needed it to be to be successful,” said owner Tom Danz.
The mill produced matte board, scrapbooking and high-end art paper, and had success with its signature Kona Paper made from burlap coffee bean bags. A skeleton staff will remain in the building for about another month to wrap up loose ends and finish paper converting.

Copy and paste the following link into your browser for more information: http://www.postcrescent.com/story/money/2016/03/31/whiting-paper-mill-closes-menasha/82469846/

Remember to share Monday Morning Minute in your work place and share your stories with us.  Send your information to Laura Donovan at ldonovan@usw.org.