Global Unions Representing Sappi Paperworkers Come Together

Monday, April 04, 2005

Press release from the issuing company

ICEM affiliated unions in the paper sector from SouthAfrica, Europe and the United States came together 30-31 March and formed an ICEM Global Union Network of Sappi Workers. Representatives from a dozen paper mills of the Johannesburg-based paper concern met in Bad Munder, Germany, to launch the Network, one of seven such ICEM workers' networks aimed at building cross-border solidarity and mutual support.
The Network will be administered by the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU) of South Africa, the ICEM affiliate representing both Sappi's paper and wood sector workers in its home country, and the union representing nearly half of Sappi's 10,000 unionised workers. CEPPWAWU General Secretary Welile Nolingo willGeneral Secretary Fred Higgs.
"The company inevitably will be aware of the launch of this Network and we hope they recognize the seriousness and determination of the union-organised workers that they employ across the world," Higgs added.
Union representatives attending the founding Sappi Network meeting came from Austria, Belgium, Germany, and The Netherlands, in addition to the U.S. and South Africa. Germany's IGBCE, representing Sappi workers at two German paper mills, hosted the Network. Selected to the steering committee was Jan Staal of Algemene Centrale-Centrale Generale (ACCG) of Belgium, representing Sappi's eight European paper mills; Keith Romig of PACE, representing the company's four U.S. mills; and Pasco Dyani of CEPPWAWU, covering Sappi's paper and wood sectors in South Africa. The ICEM's Paper Sector Officer will also sit on the Network's