Workers at Norampac’s Burnaby mill –members of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) Local 1129 –have been on strike for three and a half months. The company, a joint venture owned by Cascades and Domtar Inc, is the largest containerboard producer in Canada.

The last newsletter of Local 1129, The Pulper, published last month, explained:

“Despite a BC Supreme Court injunction, picket line arrests, scabs, and company arrogance in moving both finished product and raw materials out of our mill, we’re still here.”

Seven Oaks recently spoke with Local President Dave Hart about the strike.

1) Seven Oaks: What do workers produce at the Norampac facility, and how many CEP members are currently on strike?

Dave Hart: There are 103 unionized workers on strike right now. We are a 100% recycling mill, producing things like bags, boxes and those little sleeves for coffee cups.

2) S.O.: What are the issues in this dispute with the company?

Hart: This is our first strike in 29 years. The issues are concessions on benefits, like on health and welfare. They also want to remove provisions against contracting out, and to pull out of the province-wide job evaluation program.

3) S.O.: Have there been any negotiations since the strike began?

Hart: We’ve been out 108 days, and there have not been any negotiations, despite repeated attempts by the union.

4) S.O.: Why do you think the company is being so intransigent, pushing for these concessions?

Hart: We are owned by a large multi-national corporation. The only thing we can think of is that they want to break the pattern [of agreements] in the industry. We’ve established a pattern –in terms of length and term of agreement, pensions, health and welfare –and they want to break that.

5) S.O.: There have been some incidents on the picket line?

Hart: We have had an injunction, that we can only delay traffic going in or out of the facility for a period of two minutes. The company achieved an enforcement order, and that resulted in two members being arrested –Corie Burleigh and Gene McGuckin. They were charged, and the cases were heard on July 19 and July 22. The crown chose not proceed against either of them.

6) S.O.: How is the morale on the line, after over 100 days?

Hart: It’s very solid. As the strike goes on they’re getting angrier.

7) S.O.: How can people show their support for the members of Local 1129 in this struggle?

Hart: The one thing we really like for people to do is just to show up down on the line, it’s so important. We’re kind of down in the wilderness of Burnaby, so anytime you see someone come down, it’s great. If you go to our website, www.cep1129.ca, we have a map to show you the way.

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