The United Steel Workers officials say recently laid off Groveton paper mill workers have little to be thankful for this holiday.
They say company officials are threatening to take severance packages away from some workers if the union doesn't stop fighting for a better deal.
NHPR correspondent Chris Jensen has the story.
When Wausau Paper told the 251 union workers at the Groveton plant about their severance packages, the workers were not happy.
“We were disgusted.
That’s Ron Pickering. He’s the regional representative for the United Steel Workers.
“My committee really felt we were disrespected due to the experience they have. We made that known to the company about recognizing years of service. ”
Workers who had been there less than 10 years would get four weeks pay and benefits.
Workers who had been there between 10 and 20 years would get eight weeks.
Workers who had been there for more than 20 years would get 12 weeks.
Pickering says the union hoped pressure from elected officials would help get a better package.
He said Governor John Lynch contacted Wausau on the union’s behalf.
So did presidential candidate John Edwards.
But the union has run out of time.
Wausau Paper says the severance package must be accepted.
Otherwise union employees who find new jobs and leave before the official closing on December 31st won’t get anything.
Ron Pickering.
“The company is more or less, in my terminology, holding us hostage to that agreement.”
But Stuart Carlson, the executive vice president of administration for Wausau, says the company is in a terrible situation.
It is struggling and is doing the best it can.
“The paper industry is in a bind. Take a look at the Northeast, look what has happened both in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont in the paper industry. It has gone away.”
“All things considered I will say what I said when I was out there and that is we are treating people as fairly as we can under the circumstances we find ourselves.”
Pickering says as soon as the company can get the agreement to union officials it will be signed.
For NHPR News this is Chris Jensen
