Bowater workers are productive - Wentzell
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 141 President, Courtney Wentzell agrees with much of what Abitibi-Bowater Inc. states about the current economic crisis but bristles when he reads Bowater Mersey Paper Co. employees are not as productive as many of their counterparts in other plants.
AbitibiBowater Inc. spokesperson, Seth Kursman said during an interview almost two weeks ago, “Our labour productivity in our Mersey operation is much less than in many of our operations. We don’t give specific numbers because this is proprietary information.”
Wentzell said, “I think he has to prove that to us. I don’t think production wise we’re inefficient at all. I challenge that. It’s actually almost insulting.”
However, he agrees Nova Scotia Power Inc. power rates are “killing us. It’s uncompetitive for them and it’s tough but you can’t look at the workers at the mill to alleviate this. We can’t control the power rates. It’s up to the politicians and whoever. We agree with the company it’s very unfair. It’s killing Stora too, killing Port Hawkesbury.”
He added employees continually try to become more efficient but have had no control over some “management or corporate decisions we find silly. That’s another thing that’s really out of our hands.”
Two examples include letting their steam plant “go to hell” and then contracting it out to Brooklyn Energy Centre and getting rid of the wood room, where employees previously de-barked and chipped purchased logs. He explained they must rely on outside sources.
“Now, there’s not much around for chips with all the sawmills closing down. It’s tough. Those are the kind of decisions the workers don’t make. If that stuff is inefficient that’s not our fault.”
He said the last cost per tonne numbers he viewed were $450 to $456 compared to over $500 for some other plants. “That is quite a bit cheaper than other spots for sure.”
However, he said, “We are trying to come up with solutions for them.”
