Dec. 6, 2007 - The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) said that it is proposing to head to the bargaining table a year earlier than scheduled in response to the crisis in the forest sector.

Delegates representing paperworkers from AbitibiBowater adopted the measure as part of an action plan developed at their meeting in Montreal this week. The proposal will be put to a conference of all pulp and paper Local unions in Eastern Canada early next year.

"We're taking the bull by the horns," said CEP president Dave Coles . "As a union there are ways we can help cut costs that don't involve concessions and we want to put them forward." Coles stressed that "re-opening negotiated contracts to cut wages and benefits is definitely not on.

"We want to sit down face-to-face with AbitibiBowater to explore their closure announcements in detail, including all possible alternative plans for these mills and their assets, early retirements and a transition plan for the affected workers," Cole said.

The union said it is also calling on AbitibiBowater and all major companies to join the union in convening a national forest industry summit to agree on urgent matters to support the Canadian forest industry.

SOURCE: CEP