In its latest offer, the company added a $1,500 signing bonus and altered its plan to pay only 50 percent of health insurance premiums, setting a payment level of 75 percent instead.

Using the argument that Finch, Pruyn needs "the same competitive advantages the unions gave our paper industry competitors a long time ago," the company is also demanding that workers give up double time on Sundays, elimination of holiday pay unless the day is worked by the employee, reduction in funeral leave, and revisions in seniority rights and job security. Workers estimate that these proposed concessions would amount to an annual wage reduction of about $10,000 per employee.

Larry Bulman, president of Local 773 of the Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters, said that the company's threat to hire permanent replacement workers at the same time it was making the new offer, did not intimidate union members into voting for the concession contract. After the rebuff from the unionists, the bosses placed an ad for "Permanent Replacement Positions" in the help-wanted section of the Glens Falls Post-Star October 21.

There are seven union locals at the plant. In addition to Local 773, they include the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) Local 18; PACE Local 155; the International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers Local 105; the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 229; International Association of Machinists (IAM) Local 365; and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 236. Workers staff the picket lines 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During weekdays as many as 75 unionists are on the line together.

Since the strike began Finch, Pruyn has been using office personnel and about 170 temporary workers to carry out some production. But both the wood and pulp yards have remained closed, Ron Gates, secretary-treasurer of PACE Local 155, told the Militant.

"No union members have crossed the picket line," stated Mike Scarselletta, president of PACE Local 18.

The union negotiators are preparing a fresh counteroffer to present to the company through a mediator.  
 
'They're treating us like the enemy'
"Respect is the number one issue now," said Ralph Dow, a member of PACE Local 18 who has worked at Finch, Pruyn for 27 years. He had been thinking of retiring last May. When asked why, Dow said: "The average person out here has worked at this mill for 20 years. We thought we were family, but now they're treating us like the enemy." Dow's wife proudly explained their son, who previously held a temporary job in the plant during the summer months, had refused a trucking job this year because it would have involved crossing the picket line to deliver material to the struck plant.

Another worker on the line said the railroad company had been forced to hire three new workers after unionists refused to bring trains onto Finch, Pruyn property during the strike.

The picket line is well-organized with coffee and donuts for the strikers. In addition to union signs with slogans, such as "United We Negotiate, Divided We Beg" and "Bargaining, Not Blackmail," there is information on the issues available and photo displays of strike activities. The unionists have also set up a food pantry for strikers at the Carpenters and Millwrights hall.

The unionists have been active in seeking to win support for their strike. Tim Hayes, a shop steward for IAM Local 365, told the Militant that area unions including Teamsters, Communications Workers of America, and the Service Employees International Union had contributed more than $40,000 to aid the strike.

At International Paper Co.'s Hudson River mill in Corinth, where workers recently agreed to a 15-month extension on their contract, union members donated $4,000 in solidarity. Hayes said the strikers often borrow one of the construction workers' giant inflatable rats to use on their picket lines.

Dan Fein contributed to this article.  
 
 
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