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2 October, 2006
Trade union representatives from Sappi paper mills in Europe, South Africa, and the US gathered in La Roche, Belgium, 22-23 September, to discuss the South African-based company’s European restructuring measures. This restructuring has already led to numerous – and sometimes massive – redundancies at several mills.
The seminar, hosted jointly by the Belgian Unions ABVV/FGTB and ACV BI/CSC BI, was attended by representatives from both ICEM and the European Mine, Chemical, and Energy Workers’ Federation (EMCEF). The two-day event primarily focused on Sappi’s “Project Everest,” a restructuring programme announced in February 2006 for the company’s European operations. Project Everest is aimed at improving the company’s operating income by the end of 2007.
Sappi workers’ representatives from Austria, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, and the UK, who currently face different stages of the restructuring, shared their experiences, while trade unionists from South Africa and the US added to the discussion by updating the participants on situations inside their mills.
Union participants in La Roche produced a joint letter from the Global Union Sappi Network to company Chairman Eugene van As, stating common concern over the company’s cost-cutting measures. The letter says that the restructuring is potentially damaging not only to the company’s workers, but also to the company itself.
The letter requested clarification of management’s development strategy for Sappi. The letter also asked van As to direct his reply to Pasco Dyani of ICEM affiliate Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood, and Allied Workers’ Union (CEPPWAWU) of South Africa, who serves as Chairman of ICEM’s Global Sappi Union Network.