Locked-out mill workers urge government to help

Locked-out paper mill workers from Pine Falls, Man., are taking their cause to the steps of the Manitoba legislature.

About 250 workers have been locked out of the mill, about 130 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, since Sept. 1.

A number of the workers have told CBC News they intend to start picketing at the legislature in Winnipeg beginning Monday. They want the government to do more to help solve their labour dispute.

Contract talks between the United Steelworkers union and the company began Aug. 13, but the two sides have been unable to reach a collective agreement.

Negotiations broke down in late October, and the two sides have not been back to the table since then.

A spokesperson for Montreal-based Tembec said the company needs an "immediate and significant reduction" in labour costs at the paper mill to keep it competitive in a radically changed market for newsprint.

Union leaders have said the lockout is a way to force workers to take a 35 per cent cut in wages and benefits.

Food bank for workers

In the town, a resource centre and food bank were set up recently for the workers.

Michelle Bruneau, whose husband is one of the locked-out employees, helped organize the resource centre after noticing that some people on the picket line were going hungry.

"A lot of people are finding it hard to ask for help, but it is slowly building up as the need increases," Bruneau said. "When we first started, it was about 10 families daily [accessing the resources]. Now it has increased to about 18 families."

Families who go to the centre can get two days of emergency food, plus access to clothing and other assistance, she said, noting that all of the items have been donated.

"People have been donating from all across Manitoba, unions across Canada. The response has been good but the money is going quickly," Bruneau said. Anyone who wants to donate can do so at the Pine Falls Sunova Credit Union, Bruneau said.