Work Stoppage Continues at Smurfit-Stone's La Tuque, QC, Mill
November 17 2010 - 11:57AM
PR Newswire (Canada)
CREVE COEUR, Mo. and CHICAGO, Nov. 17, 2010 /CNW/ -- UNIK Local 34
Rejects Company's Latest Offer Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
(NYSE: SSCC) today announced that the UNIK Local 34 union (UNIK) at
the Company's La Tuque, QC, mill rejected the Company's contract
offer tendered on November 10, 2010. The offer was rejected by
approximately 53 percent of the voting union members. (Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070129/SMURFIT-STONELOGO)
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070129/SMURFIT-STONELOGO)
Smurfit-Stone has confirmed its position with UNIK leadership that
its current offer remains unchanged and a lockout will remain in
effect until an agreement is reached. On November 8, UNIK initiated
a work stoppage at the La Tuque mill without notice, despite a
meeting that was planned to take place on November 10, 2010, to
continue with talks. The Company has been attempting to negotiate
with UNIK since early 2010. An agreement similar to the offer made
to UNIK had already been reached some months ago with the
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP), which covers
roughly 270 production and office employees at the mill. UNIK, an
independent union not affiliated with the CEP, covers approximately
140 paper machine workers at the La Tuque mill. "We have negotiated
in good faith all along and again presented a fair and competitive
offer," said Pierre Pacarar, general manager of the La Tuque mill.
"It is our position that the offer was consistent with other
contracts in the industry and we are disappointed with this
result." Throughout the lockout, management and a small group of
hourly employees will ensure that the mill's assets are maintained
and the Company continues to meet all of its environmental
obligations. Despite these recent events at the La Tuque mill,
Smurfit-Stone remains well-positioned to meet both the current and
ongoing needs of its customers. Proactive measures are being taken
to ensure continuity of customer deliveries. Forward-Looking
Statements This press release contains statements relating to
future events, which are forward-looking statements as that term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Actual outcomes may differ materially from those described as a
result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not
limited to the outcome of negotiations with unions representing
workers at our facilities, changes in general economic conditions,
pricing pressures in key product lines, seasonality, changes in
input costs including recycled fiber and energy costs, as well as
other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, as
updated from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange
Commission filings. The Company does not intend to review, revise
or update any particular forward-looking statements in light of
future events. Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation is one of the
industry's leading integrated containerboard and corrugated
packaging producers and one of the world's largest paper recyclers.
The company is a member of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® and
the Chicago Climate Exchange. Smurfit-Stone generated revenue of
$5.57 billion in 2009; has led the industry in safety every year
since 2001; and conducts its business in compliance with the
environmental, health, and safety principles of the American Forest
& Paper Association. www.smurfit-stone.com Lisa Esneault of
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, +1-314-656-5827 Web Site:
http://www.smurfit-stone.com
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