Thursday, 31 January 2008
Posting Comments
A few people may have noticed that their comments are not posted. We have stated in the past that we will not use this venue to get into any vicious debate over unfounded accusations in a public forum such as this blog. If you feel you must then please do it in the proper forum such as a General Meeting. But please be prepared to back up your accusations.
Catalyst Tax Break
Published Date: 2008/1/31 0:10:00
Article ID : 3536
Version 1.00
By Karen Boden
Tighten your belts; Catalyst Paper got its tax break.Port Alberni city council voted Wednesday evening to reduce industrial property taxes by an additional $125,000 per year for five years. This is on top of the $300,000 annual reduction the city agreed to one year ago. The paper-making company’s senior vice-president Ron Buchhorn had pleaded for the break Monday night, saying it would help to convince Catalyst to start-up the idle No. 4 paper machine.The final tax reduction will amount to a total of $2.125 million at the end of five years.The vote was passed Wednesday after council heard a report recommending compliance from the city’s economic development manager Pat Deakin. City councillors didn’t all readily agree, though.Coun. Cindy Solda had asked Buchhorn Monday if his request was a bullying tactic. She was not present at Wednesday’s budget presentations.Coun. Jack McLeman voiced some reservations and abstained from the vote.“I think we should wait and see if Catalyst even accepts the union’s proposal which they haven’t already done,” he said.The paper mill’s two CEP Union locals met with company officials over the past few months and made a number of sacrifices, alienating their own governing national body in the process. They hoped Catalyst would restart the downed machine. Union presidents joined forces with the employer Monday in asking the city to step up to the plate as well, with lowered taxes.McLeman was concerned because council still has to figure out how it will make up the shortfall.“Let’s not rush until we know what the cost is,” he urged prior to the vote.Coun. Hira Chopra had argued for a guarantee. He wanted some sort of a commitment from the company assuring council the No. 4 paper machine would indeed be put back into service if the tax break was approved.“If [the company does] not start No. 4 I have a hard time as a businessman to swallow this one,” said Chopra. “[Catalyst has] to do something, too.”The Catalyst board won’t decide on the deal worked out with the union until next month.Councillors Ike Patterson, Charles Mealey and Kenn Whiteman all felt it was imperative to approve the reduction and show Catalyst a commitment to keeping the paper mill in operation.Patterson called it a show of good faith saying, “Let’s face it, these unions have given up an awful lot – more than anybody ever thought they would do.”He said the issue is also about keeping the only other paper machine – the No. 5 lightweight paper making machine – up and running.The paper mill once employed 1,500 people and was the lifeblood of the community, but now employs just 200 senior workers.Mayor Ken McRae, who arranged for the presentation Monday from the unions and the paper mill as well as from Western Forest Products, has been discussing taxes with the forest industry representatives for a long time.“The time of negotiations is over,” said McRae, speaking emphatically. “No more negotiations!”“If we don’t go through with this then that machine is not going to start up,” he said. McRae said Catalyst president Richard Garneau was on the phone asking him for $2 million in cash this week.The subject was opened up for comments from the floor and three people spoke in favour of the tax reduction. One lone woman, saying she was speaking on behalf of a number of others, was opposed.The mill’s various owners have a long history of broken promises to the community, she indicated.“Enough is enough,” she said.Forest company operator Mike McKay sided with the unions. “CEP stepped up,” said McKay. “They bent, they almost broke as far as I can tell because I can’t imagine what Pete [Reyburn, CEP 592 president] would have gone through, getting it from both sides.”Catalyst’s contribution, at $5.7 million, makes up 80 per cent of the industrial property taxes paid to the city. The reduction will translate to a $100,000 savings for the company in the first year.City council also voted to strike up a key stakeholder team with the mayor, city manager, economic development manager, the regional district chair and administrator to meet presidents of Catalyst, Western Forest Products and the Coulson Group of Companies.The team would identify any other actions the city may take to ensure the big companies will continue to do business in town.Karen.boden@westcoaster.ca
Thanks to Kevin Drews of the WESTCOASTER.CA for his permission to post this article.
Article ID : 3536
Version 1.00
By Karen Boden
Tighten your belts; Catalyst Paper got its tax break.Port Alberni city council voted Wednesday evening to reduce industrial property taxes by an additional $125,000 per year for five years. This is on top of the $300,000 annual reduction the city agreed to one year ago. The paper-making company’s senior vice-president Ron Buchhorn had pleaded for the break Monday night, saying it would help to convince Catalyst to start-up the idle No. 4 paper machine.The final tax reduction will amount to a total of $2.125 million at the end of five years.The vote was passed Wednesday after council heard a report recommending compliance from the city’s economic development manager Pat Deakin. City councillors didn’t all readily agree, though.Coun. Cindy Solda had asked Buchhorn Monday if his request was a bullying tactic. She was not present at Wednesday’s budget presentations.Coun. Jack McLeman voiced some reservations and abstained from the vote.“I think we should wait and see if Catalyst even accepts the union’s proposal which they haven’t already done,” he said.The paper mill’s two CEP Union locals met with company officials over the past few months and made a number of sacrifices, alienating their own governing national body in the process. They hoped Catalyst would restart the downed machine. Union presidents joined forces with the employer Monday in asking the city to step up to the plate as well, with lowered taxes.McLeman was concerned because council still has to figure out how it will make up the shortfall.“Let’s not rush until we know what the cost is,” he urged prior to the vote.Coun. Hira Chopra had argued for a guarantee. He wanted some sort of a commitment from the company assuring council the No. 4 paper machine would indeed be put back into service if the tax break was approved.“If [the company does] not start No. 4 I have a hard time as a businessman to swallow this one,” said Chopra. “[Catalyst has] to do something, too.”The Catalyst board won’t decide on the deal worked out with the union until next month.Councillors Ike Patterson, Charles Mealey and Kenn Whiteman all felt it was imperative to approve the reduction and show Catalyst a commitment to keeping the paper mill in operation.Patterson called it a show of good faith saying, “Let’s face it, these unions have given up an awful lot – more than anybody ever thought they would do.”He said the issue is also about keeping the only other paper machine – the No. 5 lightweight paper making machine – up and running.The paper mill once employed 1,500 people and was the lifeblood of the community, but now employs just 200 senior workers.Mayor Ken McRae, who arranged for the presentation Monday from the unions and the paper mill as well as from Western Forest Products, has been discussing taxes with the forest industry representatives for a long time.“The time of negotiations is over,” said McRae, speaking emphatically. “No more negotiations!”“If we don’t go through with this then that machine is not going to start up,” he said. McRae said Catalyst president Richard Garneau was on the phone asking him for $2 million in cash this week.The subject was opened up for comments from the floor and three people spoke in favour of the tax reduction. One lone woman, saying she was speaking on behalf of a number of others, was opposed.The mill’s various owners have a long history of broken promises to the community, she indicated.“Enough is enough,” she said.Forest company operator Mike McKay sided with the unions. “CEP stepped up,” said McKay. “They bent, they almost broke as far as I can tell because I can’t imagine what Pete [Reyburn, CEP 592 president] would have gone through, getting it from both sides.”Catalyst’s contribution, at $5.7 million, makes up 80 per cent of the industrial property taxes paid to the city. The reduction will translate to a $100,000 savings for the company in the first year.City council also voted to strike up a key stakeholder team with the mayor, city manager, economic development manager, the regional district chair and administrator to meet presidents of Catalyst, Western Forest Products and the Coulson Group of Companies.The team would identify any other actions the city may take to ensure the big companies will continue to do business in town.Karen.boden@westcoaster.ca
Thanks to Kevin Drews of the WESTCOASTER.CA for his permission to post this article.
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Board of Directors Meeting Feb. 12th 2008
The recent news that the Board of Directors will not be deciding on the CER until February 12th is extremely disappointing. To say that I'm frustrated is a huge understatement. The future of our members as well as our possible retirees remains unsure, at least for another 2 weeks. Some members have stated that the unsigned agreement has already been violated by not adhering to the original dates for the acceptance of the retirement packages and that should be cause to withdraw the proposed agreement. That may be so, but there is a lot more to this agreement than just the retirement packages. There are the people that will still be working in this mill under this agreement with the security of a long term, viable, 2 machine operation if this CER is approved. These are the people that are giving up the most by way of discretionary time off for shift workers, 5 shift system, banked overtime etc. in order to achieve those packages.
In actual fact, the specifics of the agreement are still intact. Implementation of this agreement is not until May 1st. The offer on the packages is still intact. There is not a lot we can do to influence the Board to expedite this process. Its time to start focusing on the membership as a whole and not just those that want to retire. Everybody has a very big stake in this agreement.
We have invested too much time and work to walk away from this now.
To quote Local 686 President Brother Roy Plotniko:
"The delay on the Board of Directors decision is extremely disturbing. Local 686 will be watching the events as they unfold very closely, as we approach and reach the proposed February 12th 2008 Board of Directors meeting.I will arrive in Vancouver from Kamloops on the morning of Feb. 11th 2008. In Vancouver I will stay awaiting a decision from Catalyst on whether or not they approve the "Two Machine Configuration" and the future of our mill. I will have communication open with the employer and the local 24/7.
I will not come home to Port Alberni unless I have a decision for you.
The local has been waiting far too long for this uncertainty to end. I thank you for your support and most of all your patience.
Roy Plotniko
CEP Local 686 President.
Brother Plotniko and myself will be attending the Board Meeting together and we will have a decision for both of the Locals.
Pete Rayburn
In actual fact, the specifics of the agreement are still intact. Implementation of this agreement is not until May 1st. The offer on the packages is still intact. There is not a lot we can do to influence the Board to expedite this process. Its time to start focusing on the membership as a whole and not just those that want to retire. Everybody has a very big stake in this agreement.
We have invested too much time and work to walk away from this now.
To quote Local 686 President Brother Roy Plotniko:
"The delay on the Board of Directors decision is extremely disturbing. Local 686 will be watching the events as they unfold very closely, as we approach and reach the proposed February 12th 2008 Board of Directors meeting.I will arrive in Vancouver from Kamloops on the morning of Feb. 11th 2008. In Vancouver I will stay awaiting a decision from Catalyst on whether or not they approve the "Two Machine Configuration" and the future of our mill. I will have communication open with the employer and the local 24/7.
I will not come home to Port Alberni unless I have a decision for you.
The local has been waiting far too long for this uncertainty to end. I thank you for your support and most of all your patience.
Roy Plotniko
CEP Local 686 President.
Brother Plotniko and myself will be attending the Board Meeting together and we will have a decision for both of the Locals.
Pete Rayburn
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Syncrude Job Fair
I was asked this morning to mention on this blog that there is a Syncrude Job Fair in Nanaimo tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Grand Hotel. I have no further information as to the time of the job fair but I'm sure if you phoned the hotel they might be able to give you some more information.
You can also check out Syncrude's web site although I couldn't find any info there in a quick look around.
And here is the Grand Hotel's web site.
You can also check out Syncrude's web site although I couldn't find any info there in a quick look around.
And here is the Grand Hotel's web site.
Contact Information
Please use the following phone numbers to contact Pete Rayburn
Cell Phone: 250-731-6852 (Please note new cell number)
Mill Phone: 724-7528 (Office in 3rd floor technical building)
CEP Local 592 Office: 723-3931
Cell Phone: 250-731-6852 (Please note new cell number)
Mill Phone: 724-7528 (Office in 3rd floor technical building)
CEP Local 592 Office: 723-3931
Board of Directors Update
The rumor currently making the rounds through the mill about the CER approval being delayed until Feb 12th are apparently true. Roy Plotniko, President Local 686, and myself met with Ron Buchhorn last night to try and find out just what the hell is going on with our Board of Directors and what kind of game are they playing with us. I believe that we did impress upon Ron that enough is enough and that we will not keep going down this road of uncertainty. But having said that, I hope I speak for all when I say that we have put far too much work into this process to just pick up our bat and ball and go home. We have been assured one more time that the CER approval will be on Feb 12th and Roy and I have been asked to attend that Board Meeting. I also believe that we left the impression with Ron that the opportunities to complete this agreement are fading faster as we keep getting put off. As we all know, we came into this with an open and honest attitude and good intentions but not to be made fools of. Unfortunately the Board does not see the importance or urgency that is required to make this agreement work. We have informed Ron that we will attend that Board Meeting and that Feb 12th is as far as we will being willing to go. If the approval is not completed by that date then it will be the decision of the members of Local 592 on what path we take next. This local membership has demonstrated amazing patience over the last several years and we ask for a little more.
Pete Rayburn
Extremely frustrated President CEP Local 592
Pete Rayburn
Extremely frustrated President CEP Local 592
Friday, 25 January 2008
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