Twin Rivers Paper's mill sits in the middle of downtown Madawaska and is located at one end of the international bridge connecting the community with Edmundston, New Brunswick, seen here in the background. File photo/Linda Pelletier

Union and Madawaska mill come to agreement, avoiding strike

The three United Steelworkers locals at Twin Rivers Paper Mill ratified a four-year contract with the mill ending weeks of negotiations.

MADAWASKA, Maine — The three United Steelworkers locals at Twin Rivers Paper Mill ratified a four-year contract with the mill ending weeks of negotiations.

Staff representative Michael Higgins said in a statement that the new Collective Bargaining Agreement “guarantees wages, benefits, and working conditions which are superior to most of the paper industry across the United States.”

“The mill in Madawaska has seen many years of uncertainty, changes of ownership, and concessions,” Higgins said. “For this reason, many of our members were willing to put their livelihoods on the line, by forcing a strike vote, in order to provide a better life for their families.”

On Aug. 21, the USW who represents more than 325 members in Madawaska, voted to reject Twin Rivers’ proposal, one that was called the “last & best” contract offer. That final rejection, as outlined in a flyer hung on a bulletin board near one of the time clocks, meant that the union workers could terminate their contract and strike.

“Though negotiations were lengthy, arduous, and not appealing to some members, we avoided a strike today with an overwhelming majority vote on the latest company proposal,” Higgins said in his statement Thursday night. “Our members sacrifice their nights, weekends, days off, and holidays to provide a first-class workforce for Twin Rivers Paper.”

Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said she was pleased the two parties could work it out.

“Maine’s paper mills and the employees who power them every day are at the foundation of our state’s history and our economy,” Fortman said. “We are very pleased that Twin Rivers Paper Mill and United Steelworkers were able to work together to ratify a contract that allows hardworking Mainers to continue to provide for themselves and their families and the mill to continue to successfully operate.”

Madawaska Town Manager Gary Picard said Friday he was “happy to learn that Twin Rivers Paper and the employees were successful in their negotiations to ultimately arrive at an agreement without strike.”

Attempts to reach Twin Rivers representatives were not successful.