By Brent Bosker

Mill union gives Paper Excellence an ‘overwhelming’ yes

Nov 15, 2010 | 5:18 AM

Former workers of Prince Albert's pulp mill may have just saved the dormant facility from the wrecking ball.

About 140 members the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union accepted a collective agreement from Paper Excellence that could result in the mill restarting by the fall of 2011.

“It was overwhelmingly passed,” said CEP local 1120 president, Anibal Bravo following a vote on Sunday at the downtown Union Centre.

Bravo declined to speak about the terms of the agreement, but said the five-year deal offered competitive wages and very good benefits.

He said having the members support the agreement is exciting for everyone.

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“The members of local 1120 are excited to have the opportunity to have that place open up again. They’re not only excited for the local, but also excited for the community of Prince Albert — the northern communities and the province,” said Bravo.

That excitement was evident as union members filed out of the Union Centre Sunday afternoon.
“This is a big step for Prince Albert,” said one man.

Another man said he was hoping to be able to come home to work after going west to work when the mill closed in 2006.

“I lived here since 1988 and I work at Fort McMurray seven (days) in, seven out, so this still home and I guess for a lot of people it’s the same thing,” he said.

Bravo said the deal represents a turnaround in the industry.

“You know at one time they thought the forestry sector was out in the sunset, now its back on the map (in Saskatchewan),” he said.

Paper Excellence remains in discussions with Domtar on the sale of the mill however there have been no announcements from either side.

Some 700 people lost their jobs when Weyerhaeuser closed the mill in 2006 because of poor market conditions. It’s not yet clear how many of those jobs would be restored if the mill were to restart.

bbosker@panow.com