The union representing Catalyst employees is protesting against the duties and tarrifs being put on paper by the United States.
Jim Dixon, UNIFOR national representative, says workers agreed to pay cuts five years ago to help the company out of creditor protection, and just as it seemed the company was recovering, the U.S. government slapped the punitive duties on their products.
He says workers in Port Alberni are now 14% behind industry pay standards and have been without a contract for the past year, and the tarrifs have made negotiations almost impossible.
Dixon says raw log exports are also hurting Catalyst, who are finding it increasingly difficult to get pulp logs, chips, and hog fuel.
He said one of Powell River’s two machines is starting a 3 week curtailment due to a lack of fibre, and the duties on the newsprint it produces.
The union and company are lobbying federal natural resources minister Jim Carr for government assistance in fighting the tarrifs.
You can add your name to a petition going to Minister Carr here: