By Brent Bosker

Union looking forward to fresh start with Paper Excellence

May 9, 2011 | 6:12 AM

The union at the Prince Albert Pulp Mill is looking forward to working with new owners and turning over a new leaf in the community.

“Domtar is done and now is a new chapter, let’s move on,” said Anibal Bravo, the president of CEP local 1120.

Paper Excellence recently completed a sale with Domtar and is investing $200 million to convert the facility to make dissolving pulp and hopes to be operational by the second quarter of next year.

It’s been a good relationship so far, Bravo said. It started last year when they entered into negotiations with Paper Excellence.

“They knew they could have started from a blank piece of paper, but they said no. ’We like what you have in the contract we, just want to streamline a few things.’”

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It shows they want to work with the people, he said.

Bravo described negotiations as “difficult” when dealing with previous owner Domtar, but said he’s not interested in dwelling on the past.

Weyerhaeuser announced the closure of the mill in 2006, and at the time some people in the community pointed the finger at the union.

“We received a lot of negative remarks toward the union and we continue to receive (them),” Bravo said, adding the comments are unfair

“The attitude of (Weyerhaeuser) at the time was ‘we made up our mind and you’re not going to change it,’” he said.

It’s ludicrous for people to believe the union had that much power, Bravo said.

“Am I going to change the public opinion, probably not, but … we continue with bringing the mill back to running condition,” he said.

Contrary to what some people believe, Bravo said the union has made sacrifices to get the mill running again.

“Mostly what we had to give up was … how scheduling is done. That had to be streamlined. Another one that is extremely dear to unions is contracting out.”

“I believe our people — Local 1120 is going to make this story very successful,” Bravo said.

The union has about 225 members that could be recalled once the details are ironed out with Paper Excellence. The company is still in the process of setting up an office and hiring key personnel in Prince Albert.

bbosker@panow.com