Congratulations to Georgia Pacific Workers

Today, the workers at the Georgia Pacific Gypsum plant in Wheatfield, Indiana won their election to be members of the United Steelworkers Union.

We need the Employee Free Choice Act so workers won't ever have to go through what this stinking company has put them through for the last three years.

Georgia Pacific Field of Dreams

Union members at the Georgia Pacific Gypsum plant in Wheatfield, Indiana fought a long and hard battle and finally ratified a labor contract last spring. Shortly before the ratification vote, a decertification petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board by a small group which has opposed union representation from the very start. The USW filed several unfair labor practice charges that were settled by Georgia-Pacific and a 60 day posting time has passed which is now allowing for this decertification election.
These local members needed our show of support so on November 3, 2009, Steelworkers and SOAR members rallied outside the gate of the Georgia Pacific Gypsum plant in Wheatfield, Indiana.Georgia Pacific management is giving the same old speeches of past organizing campaigns filled with empty threats and promises. No matter how many boss's come and go our union contract protects their wages, benefits and working conditions.

Here's the company lingo:

"We have a new and better way of doing things, it's called MBM. Give us a year to put our new ideas into effect."........... Koch, owner, 2006

"Give me another year...if it doesn't get better, you can vote for a union next year."...Kurt Riggen, former Plant Manager, 2007

"I have a lot of ideas, give me one year to make imporovements. If it doesn't get better you can vote for a union next year."...Dave Sunberg, Current plant manager, 2009

A worker could ask him/her self three questions.
Has Georgia Pacific/Koch ever lived up to any of their promises?Was GP Wheatfield a better place to work before union representation?While Georgia Pacific management was looking to cut your wages and benefits while giving themselves raises and bonuses....Who's been fighting for you?The United Steelworkers!

Don't fall for Georgia Pacific's "Field of Dreams"
Vote Yes!

It's hard to be a Blogger, Georgia Pacific

In attempting to be a blogger, I'm not doing too good. I'm saying in so few words what otherwise could be said in so many. If any of you have details of a college course I could get that could teach me how to say in 1000 words or more what otherwise could be said in 10 words or less, please let me know.

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 3, we will have a short demonstration in Wheatfield, Indiana at the Georgia Pacific gypsum plant. The demonstration will be from 2:00 pm till 3:30 pm CST. The location is on Co. Rd. 1350 North in Wheatfield, just next to that huge NIPSCO generating station.

Even though Georgia-Pacific workers now have a first contract, they are still facing a decertification vote due to a small group who never wanted union representation.

GP workers need our support to finally put this behind them and to help give them the opportunity to build a strong active local union. The local union members have
fought long and hard together against an anti-union Georgia Pacific management. We can’t allow all their hard work to be for nothing! Please come and support these courageous workers one more time and send a clear message to Georgia Paific management that the union is here to stay!

Contact persons: Ted Sautter 219-793-5346 or Mike O’Brien 219-765-7778

See what I mean? Just not enough words. This could have taken a half hour to read.

RALLY for GP Gypsum Workers

Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm cst

Georgia-Pacific Gypsum
Co Rd 1350 North
Wheatfield, IN

Even though Georgia-Pacific workers now have a first contract they are still facing a decertification vote on Thursday, November 5 due to a small group who never wanted union representation.

GP workers need our support to finally put this behind them and to help give them the opportunity to build a strong active local union. The local union members have
fought long and hard together against an anti-union GP management. We can’t allow all
their hard work to be for nothing! Please come and support these courageous workers one more time and send a clear message to GP management that the union is here to stay!

Contact persons: Ted Sautter 219-793-5346 or Mike O’Brien 219-765-7778

Demonstration Tomorrow Morning

Speak OUT for a
Fair Labor Agreement NOW
for Georgia Pacific Workers

Tuesday March 31 at 8:15 a.m.
Where: Hampton Inn, 1451 Silhavy Rd.,
(behind Strongbows at Route 30 & 49)
Valparaiso, IN

Georgia Pacific workers in Wheatfield, Indiana have tried for two years to reach a fair agreement after they decided to form a union.
Georgia Pacific has insisted on wage and benefit concessions - despite making over $40 million in profits. This is a clear attempt to bust the union.

This is the best example I know of as to why the Employee Free Choice Act should be passed by Congress.

Why the Employee Free Choice is Needed

Click on the flyer to enlarge it.

Georgia Pacific Showing True Colors

Georgia Pacific workers in Wheatfield, Indiana still without a contract

USW-represented workers at Georgia Pacific’s Wheatfield, Ind., wallboard plant continue to struggle for their first union contract. After more than 14 months of negotiations with the GP management, there is still no deal. A few of the issues delaying Wheatfield from reaching an agreement are that GP management wants to pick and choose who works overtime instead of following a seniority system and has denied the workers’ request to create a joint safety and health committee to work on issues in the plant.

Fight-Back is underway! Labor charges have been filed against GP for unfair bargaining at this plant. Steelworkers in District 7 and in the Building Products division of GP are steadily reaching out in support of the Wheatfield GP workers, and will continue to do so until a fair agreement is achieved. If progress is not made at the negotiating table soon, we will be looking at more ways to urge GP to do right by the workers in Wheatfield and offer workers a deal they can live with.

Source: Pulp truth issue 17 October 2008

This is what the union can do for you!

Click on the letter above to enlarge it.

This results in some workers getting a $4 per hour raise!

Georgia Pacific CEO Speaks Out

Georgia Pacific is a Lousy Corporate Citizen

Is Georgia Pacific a Good Corporate Citizen?

Georgia Pacific in Wheatfield, Indiana is a lousy corporate citizen. As I understand it, that doesn’t hold true for much of the Georgia Pacific Corporation, but the plant in Wheatfield that produces gypsum wallboard has decided to go against their company policy. They take from the community in the form of labor, and treat the citizens of Wheatfield who work at the plant like trash.

A good corporate citizen would, once employees vote to have a union, honestly bargain in good faith with the union to reach an agreement that both the employees and the company are willing to live by.

But no, Georgia Pacific in Wheatfield has decided instead to cut wages and benefits for their workers and lollygag and delay with the negotiations.

You know what?—If they think that the company as a whole doesn’t have anything to lose by this un-American activity, they’re sadly mistaken.

Those hotshots from Georgia Pacific down in Georgia better come to the realization that their whole company will be harmed by allowing this renegade company in Wheatfield to act this way.

I made my wife burn six rolls of toilet paper that had Georgia Pacific printed on the wrapper. She has instructions not to buy anything, and I mean anything produced by Georgia Pacific. Now I don’t know if Georgia Pacific has a toilet paper monopoly, but if they do, then I’ll be saving the classified sections of the newspaper (no color) in the future.

The CEO of Georgia Pacific better get off his fat ass and bring this Wheatfield management under control. Whoever you are, will this be your legacy? Poor Corporate Citizen?

What’s the guys name, anyway?

If guys like John McCain would support the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), lousy rotten companies like Georgia Pacific in Wheatfield, Indiana wouldn't be so eager to be un-American by refusing to bargain. The contract would be arbitrated.

Facts about Georgia Pacific

• Georgia Pacific produces wallboard at a facility located in Wheatfield, Indiana.
• In March of 2007 over seventy percent of the men and women who work at the GP Gypsum Wheatfield facility voted to unionize. Their primary goal was to eliminate favoritism and reach a fair collective bargaining agreement.
• Last year GP Gypsum made 45 million in profits.
• The union negotiating team started meeting with Company representatives 14 months ago. Instead of sharing their impressive success with their workforce, the company has demanded:

1. Wage cuts
2. Cuts in vacation
3. Reduced funeral leave
4. Elimination of Long Term Disability Insurance paid for by the employees
5. Restriction on Employees ability to increase their Life Insurance paid for by employees.

• The strategy of avoiding reaching a contract for as long as possible is widely practiced in order to eliminate unions. Studies show that 32% of companies fail to reach a first contract with their workers a year after they choose union representation.
• The Employee Free Choice Act which has majority support in both houses of Congress would require mediation and arbitration if the parties do not reach agreement after 6 months. Polling shows that 70 percent of Americans support the Employee Free Choice Act.
• Until that law is enacted the United Steelworkers has vowed to fight for a fair labor agreement for the hardworking men and women who make wallboard in Wheatfield.

Justice Deferred is Justice Denied!

Please don't Buy Georgia Pacific Wallboard

Contact GP at 800-284-5347 and tell them to reach a fair agreement with their workers

Support Georgia Pacific Workers Against this Greedy Employer

Support Georgia Pacific
Workers
ON
Fridays & Saturdays!

Over a year ago the workers at Georgia Pacific in Wheatfield, Indiana, voted overwhelmingly to organize with the USW. Our union has been negotiating a first contract since that time, and has yet to have a contract.

Georgia Pacific makes wallboard. Though they are making tremendous profits, they are demanding wage cuts, decrease of funeral leave and other take – aways. They have increased wallboard prices three times this year and they sell their products at Menards.

Our newly organized Brothers and Sisters need our help. We will be holding informational pickets at the plant on Fridays and leafleting at Menards on Saturdays, adding a new site every week, until we reach a fair contract!

Friday July 25, Aug. 1 & Aug 8
6 AM till 8 AM

Informational picket at the plant in Wheatfield. The plant is located on 1400 N. off of 49. To get to there from Lake county, go south on I-65 to 231 exit. Take 231 south to route 10. Take 10 east (left) to 49, then north on 49.

From Porter county because of the construction on 49, it’s easier to take route 2 south to route 10. Then east (left) on 10 to 49. Go north on 49 to 1400 – go right on 1400.

Saturday, July 26
9 AM – 10 AM

Leaflet at Menards in Valparaiso (just off of route 2 east side of Valpo)

and

Menards in Michigan City (north of 80-94 on 421)

and

Menards in Portage (Hwy. 6 east of Willowcreek)

We are escalating each week, so …
on August 2 add on Menards in Merrillville

And on August 9 add on Menards in Mishawaka!

If you live near enough to one of those sites, please try to be with us. Thanks!

Contact Number – District 7, Sub 4 Office 574-935-3563

Why is Georgia-Pacific putting the screws to American working families?

Not content with jacking up the price of wallboard three times in the past 12 months, Georgia-Pacific is now demanding that the workers who make the wallboard in Wheatfield, Indiana take big pay cuts.

Does their greed have no bounds?

Think about that before buying Georgia-Pacific wallboard at Menards.

A message from your friends and neighbors - The United Steelworkers

This information is being distributed for purely informational purposes. We are not asking or suggesting that any person engage in a strike against his or her employer or refuse in the course of his or her employment to use, manufacture, process or transport or otherwise handle or work on any articles, materials or commodities or perform any service. The Union's dispute is only with Georgia-Pacific. The union is not asking any member of the public to refuse to patronize Menard's or any other retail establishment.