Toronto, Ontario, Jan 09, 2002 -- Domtar Industries Inc. is pleased to announce that it has completed successful negotiation of a six-year labor agreement with PACE International Union (Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union) Locals 5-1327 and 5-1329 at its Ashdown, Arkansas mill.
The labor agreement at the Ashdown mill is the second for Domtar since the company purchased four pulp and paper facilities in the United States in August 2001. Domtar and Local 27 PACE; Local 330 I.B.F.O.; Local 1057 I.B.E.W.; Local 1490 I.A.M.A.W.; Local 2400 U.B.C.J.A. at the company's Woodland, Maine facility agreed to a six-year labor agreement in October of last year.
"I am very pleased that we were able to come to an agreement quickly and without any work stoppage or interruptions at two of our four newly acquired manufacturing facilities," said Roger H. Brear, Senior Vice President, U.S. Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Group. "These agreements are fair for both our employees and our company and according to our industry standards. With these in hand, we will continue to devote our full attention to safely manufacture the highest quality pulp and paper products and consistently meeting the needs of our customers."
The labor agreements at Domtar's Nekoosa and Port Edwards, Wisconsin, locations will expire in 2003, and negotiations on those agreements are scheduled to take place at that time.
Domtar is the second largest producer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America and the third largest in the world. It is also a leading manufacturer of business papers, printing and publishing papers, and specialty and technical papers. Domtar manages close to 36 million acres of forest land in Canada and the United States, and produces lumber and other wood products. Domtar has 12,500 employees across North America. The company also has a 50% investment interest in Norampac Inc., the largest Canadian producer of containerboard |
