AWPPW Members Turn Down Second Contract—Klog 100.7 News

It’s back to the drawing board once again for AWPPW Local 153 and Smurfit WestRock; the union turned down the company’s second contract offer on Friday.

Negotiations on this contract have been ongoing for nearly a year. Local 153’s 800 members voted down the first contract offer back in March.

Bill Sauters Jr., the AWPPW Washington State Area Representative, said, “The major issues are wages; the company has posted profits yet continues to propose wage increases that are not in line with the current inflation climate.” He added, “The biggest issue is the company’s proposal to eliminate the Kaiser option from their healthcare package. With well over 50% of the members and their families relying on the Kaiser option — and the severe lack of providers in the Longview area — it’s going to force families to travel north and south just to see a doctor.”

The current contract between Local 153 and WestRock has been in place for a decade. The last time the two sides entered negotiations, talks fell apart, leading to an unfair labor practice strike after the union accused the company of violating federal labor laws.

After a week of striking, Local 153 made an unconditional offer to return to work, which the company accepted the following day. However, the company ended negotiations, claiming an impasse. It then took several years to reach an agreement that was ultimately ratified by the members.