Paper Excellence (PE) announced late last week that one of the unions at its Crofton mill – British Columbia, Canada – the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) site 2, had given a 72-hour strike notice, putting the union in a strike position on Saturday October 22, 2022.
Employees are looking for better salary conditions in relation to high inflation and other factories in the sector in the region and the Paper Excellence subsidiary was in negotiation since July of this year with the PPWC.
Recently, the discussions hit an impasse, and, according to the company, the request for mediation was rejected by the union. After the strike was announced, the PE announced that the negotiating committee will continue to meet to try to resolve the situation.
To protect the health and safety of employees, the integrity of the local environment, and preserve the company’s assets at Crofton, Paper Excellence has begun a controlled and orderly shutdown of the kraft pulp mill and mechanical paper operations.
“Paper Excellence is deeply disappointed by the impasse in negotiations with PPWC and their rejection of the mediation process,” the company said in a statement. “Paper Excellence hopes for a speedy return to discussions and the restart of the Crofton facility.”
INDEFINITE CURTAILMENT OF CATALYST CROFTON PAPER MILL OPERATIONS
Earlier this month, Paper Excellence announced it would indefinitely cease all paper operations at the Crofton mill by early December.
“Paper markets in China served by the mill have significantly weakened while there have been substantial cost escalations for chemicals, energy and wood fibre used at Crofton,” said the company in a statement.
Paper Excellence said the indefinite curtailment would affect approximately 80 Unifor employees and 70 PPWC workers.
The mill’s pulp operations are expected to continue during the paper curtailment.
