BAILEYVILLE, Maine (AP) – In a significant development, several dozen union members from the Machinists Union, Millwrights Union, and Service Employees International Union have become eligible for unemployment benefits during their month-old strike against Woodland Pulp, a Down East mill that manufactures paper pulp. This marks the first time in Maine’s history that striking workers have been able to receive such benefits, according to Danny Loudermilk Jr., a Machinists Union business representative.
The strike, which involves approximately 75 workers, has been triggered by the company’s proposal to change job classifications. The striking machinists, millwrights, pipefitters, and mechanics, who make up a quarter of the workforce, are expressing their anger over this proposed change, while the company argues that it is seeking greater flexibility for its workers.
Brendan Wolf, the mill’s executive director for human resources and safety, revealed that on Thursday, the Maine Department of Labor notified the company that the strike does not disqualify workers from receiving unemployment benefits. However, the company is currently deciding whether to appeal this decision as it continues production.
This development follows a precedent set in 2015 when striking FairPoint workers were granted unemployment benefits after their four-month strike ended. However, they were not eligible for benefits during the strike itself. It is worth noting that FairPoint, the region’s telephone company, was later acquired by Consolidated Communications.
The qualification for unemployment benefits during a strike is a significant victory for the union workers in Maine, providing them with some financial support as they continue their fight for their job classifications. The decision by the Maine Department of Labor has raised questions about the eligibility of striking workers for unemployment benefits in other states and industries.
