Pros
I worked at the now closed Muskegon MI
Plant for 19 years until my health forced an early retirement for my family and I. I was an officer in the Local 1015 for 13 years and Union Local President for 6 years. I am sorry and said when Mark Gardner and shareholders allowed our plant to close. I was all ready retired and wished I was able to do something. I had a fair and good relationship with Eugene VanAs CEO in South Africa as I had met him many times, even went to a shareholders meeting with my Int. rep. as the only threatened President in the USA to go on the Paperworkers funds to voice some displeasure and instead instead got a one on one meeting with him, my rep and Pascoe Dyani SAPOW African President. Meeting went great he introduced us as his honored guests and allowed us to speak. Two years later on the SAPPI dollar I was invited back and given an chance to discuss the much better relationship management and union created with Mr. VanAs help and encouragement. During our sale to companies by Scott Paper we were the only mill that allowed union leadership in the interview process thanks to our then President Bill Hart and myself goal of finding the best future employer and were again recognized for our attitude. The management at our mill and just as importantly the hourly people caused Muskegon to quite often lead the Scott and later SAPPI plants in NA in profits and safety. WE had a dedicated ingrained work ethic, worked long hours and were fairly compensated for those efforts and I have few regrets other than not being able to still have our plant. The hole left in the peoples lives and our community is still in healing even after 9 years.
Cons
Seeing our plant close and the fallout and hole left for all employees salaried and hourly and having nothing to say and a lake site eyesore.
