LIVERPOOL, N.S. - Major concessions being sought to keep a troubled Nova Scotia paper mill open are between the company and its employees, Premier Darrell Dexter said Tuesday.
Dexter refused to give advice to unionized workers being asked to vote on contract concessions that would include trimming 80 full-time and 30 casual positions at Bowater Mersey in Brooklyn, N.S.
Members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers local have been given details of what union officials are calling a "take it or leave it" proposal from the company.
Dexter said the workers are in a very difficult position.
"It's very hard on the employees but we need to allow them the opportunity to think about what's being asked of them and to come to their own conclusions about that," the premier said.
He said the province is continuing to work to find ways to help the mill be more competitive, but he wouldn't say whether that could include some financial help.
"This is a file that's still under consideration, it's still developing," said Dexter.
The premier has said mill owner Resolute Forest Products Inc. (TSX:ABH) is open to reconsidering a plan to close the operation if it can get concessions from its 300 workers and help to cut production costs from suppliers, as well as a reduction in power rates.
"You have to go through it one piece at a time and the first thing that they have asked to have happen is to be able to consolidate their labour costs," Dexter said.
Courtney Wentzell, president of the local union branch, said he wasn't going to make a recommendation on how the membership should vote Wednesday on the proposed contract.
"We're not recommending anything," he said. "The burden is too high to do that."
Wentzell said he's not sure whether the union will release the vote results Wednesday.
The union said it has outlined to the workers that there will be 80 layoffs and the company would be permitted to hire temporary workers, managers and outside contractors to do some of the work.
Wentzell said his fear is that even if workers accept the proposal, there's no guarantee the mill will keep operating.
"My personal view as a trade unionist is that even this vote taking place ... is immoral," he said. "We can't stop it. We were hoping the government would step in and say this is unreasonable.
"It's a terrible, terrible, terrible burden for 228 people to make such a decision. It's a burden either way. If they vote yes, what will happen to the rest of the private sector unions in Nova Scotia? If they vote no, people will blame the union for shutting the mill down."
Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said he is wary of the company's move and questions how productivity will be maintained with such a drastic trimming of the mill's workforce.
"Those are serious cuts to employment levels and saying that it's not going to affect production simply doesn't seem to add up," he said.
Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie said he felt a "great deal of sympathy" for the union members.
"They have a large decision to make that affects a great number of people all throughout the South Shore," he said.
The province estimates that up to 2,000 people in the surrounding area would be affected if the mill closes.
