Union blasts owner of mill

[maryjane48]

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/p ... 1.23109960

[Dizzy1]

A Union blasting a company? How the heck is this news?

[alanjh595]

Let's do some logical thinking here.
#1. The tree hugging/environmentalists complain about tree harvesting and deforestation.

companies have been concerned about fibre supply with increasing pressure to protect old growth and concern over access to timber stands.

#2. Union wants more money from the company for their workers.

Western Forest Products announced the indefinite curtailment of the mill in July. It had been temporarily curtailed since February, prior to which it operated on a single-shift basis.
Ruttan asked the company to “show some belief in the future of Port Alberni.”

#3. US softwood/lumber tariffs.

“The decision to indefinitely curtail the mill was made as part of our continued focus on reducing costs in order to address the uncertainty caused by pending duties on Canadian softwood lumber products sold into the United States and ongoing log supply challenges to operate the mill efficiently,” she said.
“We have to reduce our costs to remain competitive, and the decision to indefinitely curtail the mill was not made lightly.”

#4. Rise of fuel prices because of lack of cheaper pipeline extensions.
#5. Enviro-lunitics complaining about CO2 emissions from the required equipment for logging.

Under pressure from all of the above, the mill shuts down because it is no longer a viable business, and lays off the workers.

Now the union is mad because the mill shut down and have held on to what it has left and invested their money into, the land and structure and equipment.
The union wants the company to either restart or to sell off their assets.

Since when does Unions or any other entity have a say over the viability of a business? Is the union prepared to buy the assets and start the mill again on their dime? I don't see that offer on the table.

[vegas1500]

Let's do some logical thinking here.
#1. The tree hugging/environmentalists complain about tree harvesting and deforestation.

companies have been concerned about fibre supply with increasing pressure to protect old growth and concern over access to timber stands.

#2. Union wants more money from the company for their workers.

Western Forest Products announced the indefinite curtailment of the mill in July. It had been temporarily curtailed since February, prior to which it operated on a single-shift basis.
Ruttan asked the company to “show some belief in the future of Port Alberni.”

#3. US softwood/lumber tariffs.

“The decision to indefinitely curtail the mill was made as part of our continued focus on reducing costs in order to address the uncertainty caused by pending duties on Canadian softwood lumber products sold into the United States and ongoing log supply challenges to operate the mill efficiently,” she said.
“We have to reduce our costs to remain competitive, and the decision to indefinitely curtail the mill was not made lightly.”

#4. Rise of fuel prices because of lack of cheaper pipeline extensions.
#5. Enviro-lunitics complaining about CO2 emissions from the required equipment for logging.

Under pressure from all of the above, the mill shuts down because it is no longer a viable business, and lays off the workers.

Now the union is mad because the mill shut down and have held on to what it has left and invested their money into, the land and structure and equipment.
The union wants the company to either restart or to sell off their assets.

Since when does Unions or any other entity have a say over the viability of a business? Is the union prepared to buy the assets and start the mill again on their dime? I don't see that offer on the table.

Fire it up again, without the union......and I agree, union is there for the employees, shouldn't have any say after that. Take note of what Walmart has done. Employees pushing for a union, they shut the store down.