Striking Weyerhaeuser workers reject company’s latest offer

Strike continues after overwhelming “NO” vote by IAM woodworkers as Weyerhaeuser fails to significantly improve contract proposal

LONGVIEW, Wash. (Oct. 7, 2022) — More than 1,100 Weyerhaeuser employees represented by IAMAW District W24 have been on strike since Sept. 13 against the nation’s largest forest products company. This week, the striking woodworkers voted overwhelmingly to reject the company’s latest contract proposal, the union announced today.

Strikers are shining a light on record Weyerhaeuser profits — and who made them happen.

The union said Weyerhaeuser’s latest proposal failed to significantly improve upon the offer overwhelmingly voted down by IAMAW members on Sept. 2. That offer, from a company that reported its “2021 financial performance was the strongest on record,” was rejected because general wage increases were too low, vacation time was cut, employees were asked to pay for healthcare premiums for the first time since the 1990s, and retirement benefits weren’t improved.

IAMAW District W24 announced today:

Over 86% of our membership voted (over 1000 people), and the company’s Amended Best and Final proposal was, again, overwhelmingly rejected by over 90%. Your bargaining committee is very proud of your strength, solidarity, and stamina in this fight we are in. We Are Standing Strong.

We continue to hear how important not paying for healthcare premiums is from our members, along with no loss of the bonus week of vacation for our members. This is not the time for cuts. The company has been told this, over and over, but they just don’t seem to get it.

We have another opportunity to negotiate with them today, at noon. And we are prepared to continue your fight and put in as much hard work as possible to get you something worthwhile to consider.

Your support is inspiring, and let us continue to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.

TAKE A STAND — The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO and the Oregon AFL-CIO are urging all union members and other supporters of the strikers to step up and show Weyerhaeuser that the community has these workers’ backs. Here’s how you — and your union — can show solidarity with the IAMAW strikers:

1) Contribute to this GoFundMe fundraiser to support families of striking Weyerhaeuser workers who are experiencing hardship.

2) Please sign this petition to tell Weyerhaeuser: Timber workers and their families deserve living wages, good health care, and a secure retirement!

3) Join picket lines at Weyerhaeuser facilities and donating food/supplies at the these locations. The union says “community support (on the strike lines) has been amazing” and “each location would appreciate you stopping by; hold a sign, talk with us, bring a treat or two, anything to show your support.”

“Our District W24 members are fighting for proper respect from Weyerhaeuser,” said IAMAW General Vice President Gary R. Allen. “Our members work hard every single day to make sure that Weyerhaeuser succeeds and unfortunately their contract offer has failed to recognize their contribution to that success. We call on Weyerhaeuser to fairly recognize our members’ contribution to their record-breaking profits. We stand in full solidarity with our membership and will continue to provide all resources necessary to obtain a strong contract.”