PERRY, Fla. (WTXL) - Hundreds of employees at the Foley Cellulose pulp mill could go on strike, if the union representing them rejects a contract offer from Georgia-Pacific, which has owned the mill since 2013.
For more than a year now, United Steelworkers Local Union 1192 has been in talks with Georgia-Pacific to finalize the contract.
Union president Howard Pickels said the current proposal would significantly hurt the local economy, estimating a $4-5 million loss. He said the cuts to employee wages and benefits hurt their bottom line.
"When our salaries and healthcare and so on -- our other benefits are cut, that's that much more that we don't get to spend here in the community," he said. "We have always encouraged our members to keep their money here in the community. When our money is gone, the community's money is gone."
The mill accounts for more than $230 million annually to Florida's economy -- and serves as Taylor County's largest manufacturing employer. Nearly one-fifth of Taylor County's workforce is based at Foley Cellulose, according to public affairs manager Scott Mixon.
"We believe that the long-term success of the mill is one of the most important things on our minds at this time, and we'll continue to invest," Mixon said. "We'll continue to work with the employees and the community on that particular issue."
Pickels declined to go into detail about the current offer but mentioned the union has concerns about a clause in the contract that relates to employee safety.
The union will hold special meetings Tuesday and Wednesday to inform all members of the contract negotiations.
A vote is scheduled for next week. If the union chooses to strike, Georgia-Pacific says it has a contingency plan in place.
