Stevenson, ALABAMA. – The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has certified the results of the union’s organizing victory at the Stevenson paper mill currently owned by Smurfit Stone Container Corporation.
About 300 hourly employees at the paper mill elected to be represented by the USW by a vote of 173 to 97. USW District 9 Director Dan Flippo called the election “historic” and said that the union is excited to start working with its newest members right away.
“Adding this group to the USW-represented ranks of hourly SSCC employees raises our density to its highest percentage yet,” he said.
“Our core group of dedicated activists in Stevenson has momentum going the right direction,” Flippo said. “We must now begin the hard work of forming a local union, electing a negotiating committee and signing up members.”
Likewise, USW Vice President Jon Geenen, who leads the union’s paper sector bargaining, said that he is proud of the organizing campaign that resulted in today’s announcement and looks forward to working this newly organized mill into the union’s National Paper Bargaining Program and the union’s Smurfit Stone Council, which represents thousands of SSCC employees throughout North America.
“Organizing victories at paper mills are rare,” he said, “so I want to personally thank and congratulate all of the staff and volunteers who worked on this campaign and welcome this new group to the USW, where our unity and strength comes from our members.”
The USW represents approximately 1.2 million active and retired workers in a wide variety of workplaces, including manufacturing steel and other metals, rubber, glass, paper and chemicals, refining oil, as well as in the health care industry and in the public sector.
More information, contact: James Carvin, USW - (205) 631-0137
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