Nashville, Tenn.—The Willamette Council, consisting of major unions that represent over 6,000 employees of Willamette Industries, called today for an end to "Willamette’s protracted anti-union behavior," and vowed to support local unions along with recently organized workers who are "standing up to the company and taking the brunt of Willamette’s attacks."

Meeting for the second time in five months at the Nashville headquarters of the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE), which represents the largest segment of organized workers at Willamette plants, the Willamette Council unanimously adopted a resolution to provide financial support to local unions at primary paper mills in Campti, La., and Kingsport, Tenn., if strikes occur at these facilities. The resolution also pledges support to other locals taking strike action against Willamette.

PACE local 4-1331in Campti already has taken a strike vote as part of a contract re-opener at Willamette’s Red River Mill there. United Steelworkers of America (USWA) local 12943 in Kingsport is set to negotiate a new multi-year agreement to replace the existing contract that expires on January 25, 2001.

Union locals from the Association of the Western Pulp and Paper Workers/United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and the Graphic Communications International Union also attended the Willamette Council meeting and supported the resolution.

"The financial support being offered by Willamette locals will greatly supplement strike benefits being offered by our international unions and, more importantly, increase our power against the most anti-union company in the paper industry," said Gerald Johnston, chairperson of the Willamette Council and vice president of PACE Region Eight.

Local unions at Willamette have begun a campaign to obtain a supplemental 401(k) plan that the company offers to its hourly employees at nonunion plants while denying these benefits to union workers.

"We are disgusted with the second-class treatment and the use of the 401(k) issue as a carrot to bust unions," said Glen Heck, president of PACE local 4-1331 in Campti.

"Other paper companies, including Weyerhaeuser, offer 401(k) plans and don’t use these plans to bust unions," said Keith Kiker, president of USWA local 12943. "Why can’t Willamette behave like a responsible employer?"

Union members attending the council meeting listened in horror as workers recounted a litany of anti-union practices by Willamette. According to those in attendance, Willamette uses the lack of a 401(k) plan at

union operations to keep its nonunion workers from organizing and to decertify unionized plants.

Union workers also described Willamette’s attacks on seniority, blaming of workers for safety violations rather than seeking to correct problems, hiring of anti-union workers at unionized plants, implementation of forced overtime, and contracting out of work.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint in July 2000 against Willamette for 27 labor law violations at its Fort Smith, Ark., plant. Prior to the November 1999 union representation election, Willamette threatened to withdraw the 401(k) plan if PACE won the election. The NLRB also cited Willamette for threatening pro-union workers in Fort Smith with an increase in insurance premiums, a plant closure, arrest or discharge for distributing union literature in non-work areas, and physical harm if they engaged in lawful informational picketing. PACE prevailed by one vote in the election, but so far Willamette has refused to negotiate a first contract there.

PACE filed additional NLRB charges on November 17 against the company for unlawfully telling workers at its plant in Newton, N.C., that they could obtain a 401(k) plan if they signed a petition for a decertification election and for permitting anti-union employees to circulate the petition in work areas and on company time.

"Unions belonging to the Willamette Council have set forth a mandate—the company must either stop its virulent anti-union efforts or unions will take coordinated actions against it," said PACE President Boyd Young.