Governor’s visit leaves union members feeling “upbeat”

 September 21,2006
By Greta Sproul

  Governor John Baldacci made a brief visit to the union hall in Old Town on Tuesday morning to speak with members about progress in the sale of the G-P mill. Union vice president Dan Bird said that the governor was accompanied by state economic development commissioner Jack Cashman as he met with members in a private session that lasted for about an hour.

“He gave them a timeline of what’s been going on with the sale, and he said that he was moving heaven and earth to make it all happen,” Bird said. “His presence here at the union hall meant a great deal to all of us. I’ve been telling everyone how hard the governor’s been working on this, but this gave them a chance to see for themselves the passion he’s putting into it.”

Bird said that the governor took questions from members during his visit about the ongoing sale negotiations between G-P and the still officially unnamed buyer universally believed to be the Cascades, Inc. of Montreal. Union members were also told to expect a major announcement in the very near future.

“I can tell you that a lot of members left here today feeling very upbeat and uplifted,” Bird said. “The governor really connected with them on a level that made them really believe that something is about to happen at this point. It was clear to them that he’s doing all of this because he’s concerned not just about the effect this has been having on them, but about the effect it’s had on the entire community.”

Hints and rumors of a major imminent announcement have been circulating through the area for months, but more than one union member spoke with the governor shared Bird’s positive view.

“We’ve been hearing for months now that something is about to happen, but there was something different about it this time,” Jim England, union trustee, said. “I feel pretty positive about it.”

Another telling detail in the current stage of sale negotiations is that, according to Bird, union leaders have been in the process of discussing the drawing up of a labor contract with the potential purchaser of the mill.

“There’s been some discussion about it at this point, I can tell you that much,” Bird said. “There is a lot to be positive about.”

The Georgia-Pacific mill in Old Town closed its doors last March 16, affecting over 400 workers in 40 towns. G-P mill workers continued to receive paychecks for an additional 60 days after the mill closed in accordance with an agreement between G-P and the state. In the wake of the closure, and while waiting for a sale to take place, many of the displaced workers have sought help from the Maine Transition Team. Some have taken other jobs in other towns and cities.

“I think that the governor’s visit was the shot in the arm everyone needed,” Bird said.