Mitchell Becker, president of the United Steelworkers of America Local 10-0422, said the employees denied the three-year contract because of seniority rights, job bidding procedure, health care and mandatory overtime, among other negotiations.
The Local 10-0422 represents 370 employees at the mill. The company employs 105 salaried workers, but only hourly employees belong to the union.
The employees’ old contract expired Nov. 17, and they have been working under the old contract.
“If voted down as expected, we will go back to the company and say we voted down the contract and see if they are willing to go back to the negotiating table,” Becker said before the tally. ‘‘We have a federal mediator who will assist. If we don’t feel we are making any headway, we could call for a strike vote. We have no immediate plans to do that. No one wins in a strike; that would be our last recourse.’’
Bill Van Den Brandt, Appleton spokesman, said the company is disappointed the union rejected the offer.
“The company feels that the contract offer includes the total package of wages and benefits that will keep the Spring Mill union employees well-compensated, compared to local and paper mill averages,” he said.
Van Den Brandt said the company is committed to working with the union to reach an agreement.
Appleton became 100 percent employee-owned Nov. 9, 2001, in one of the largest employee buyouts ever.
The Appleton, Wis.-based company employs 3,100 and is the 35th largest majority-employee-owned company in the U.S. based on total company employment.
Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030; e-mail her at aclegg@altoonamirror.com. Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7647; e-mail him at wfrank@altoonamirror.com.
