By The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Unionized workers at a Madawaska paper mill will see their paychecks cut by eight and a half percent as part of a new contract mill management says is needed to keep the facility from closing.
Officials with the United Steel workers say about 65 percent of the 460 members from the Fraser Papers Inc. mill voted for the three-year contract that included the cuts.
Union Representative Duane Lugdon says workers don't consider the deal fair, but "they recognize the company has a gun to their heads."
Mill officials have said the new contract was one of three conditions needed to keep the mill running after its parent company declared bankruptcy last year.
The Bangor Daily News says the new contract saves the company $4 million.
___
Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com