The Shadow
PITTSBURGH — Members of the United Steelworkers union have approved a new four-year master agreement with WestRock that includes the company’s converting plant in Low Moor.
The USW says the agreement covers more than 9,400 union workers at 62 facilities across 26 U.S. states.
WestRock is the second-largest packaging company in the United States and one of the world’s largest paper and packaging companies, operating in more than 30 countries.
The contract includes annual wage increases totaling nearly 10 percent over the four-year term, preserves affordable health care coverage, enhances retirement benefits and improves health and safety provisions.
“The USW’s bargaining committee, consisting of local union leaders from every location and international leaders, entered these negotiations knowing that we were facing a number of challenges,” said USW International Vice President Leeann Foster, who oversees bargaining in the union’s paper sector.
“These challenges included the company’s proposals, but also overcapacity in the board market, a shaky economic outlook, especially in manufacturing, and related falling box demand. All of these factors combined to create uncertainty,” Foster said.
She said the union made no concessions in the negotiations with WestRock.
“In short, we achieved security for our members,” Foster said.
The contract, which runs through 2023, covers workers at WestRock paper mills, converting and merchandising display facilities in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
“This contract sets a standard for the industry — it positions the company to succeed and invest in our facilities while making sure that workers, families and communities continue to share in that success,” Foster said.
WestRock plants in Covington and Low Moor together employ about 1,100 workers with annual wages and salaries of more than $134 million.
WestRock’s Covington paper mill is not covered by the new labor agreement with the USW.
