Bargaining Update 03/05/2026
- Mar 5
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 6
Members,
We kicked off bargaining with Weyerhaeuser yesterday, with a long session covering Local issues for the Cottage Grove Mill. It is just that, a start, a beginning.
The Company gave us their proposal and pointed out some of their objectives. This was their first bullet point:
"To support our employees, their families and communities while also ensuring that our business can continue to operate across business cycles."
Now, on the surface, this doesn't look too bad, but their proposals seemed to focus on the last part of that objective and not giving as much consideration to the first part as we would need. Mandatory Overtime and reducing the amount of notice for changing a person's work schedule don't seem very supportive of our members and their families.
Local issues may not be as shiny as General Wage Increases or increased Vacation time, but these Local Issues can be just as important. We are talking directly about the working conditions and work rules that affect our members every day.
This is just a start, and we have a little longer to go, but important issues are being talked about. And we need to be ready.
Stay Strong, and Stay Ready.
Your Negotiation Committee
Upcoming Local Negotiations:
Cottage Grove - March 5 and 6
Longview Mill - March 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
Aberdeen Woods - March 9
Pe Ell Woods -March 10
Vail Woods - March 11
Snow Peak Woods -March 13
Raymond Mill - March 17, 18, 19, 20
Springfield/TOPS - March 17
Coos Bay - March 18
Santiam Mill - March 24, 25
Longview Sort Yard/Woods - April 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
Oregon Trucking April 14th
Washington Trucking April 16th
Brandon R. Bryant
P/DBR
IAMAW District W24
At the Longview lumber mill, working conditions, and work rules are about as sufficient as they can be. General wage increase is what we need. We are all aware of our "working conditions" its a lumber mill, you can only accommodate so much for what it is. We need higher wages, plain and simple and Weyco could easily accommodate that and continue to operate across business cycles. Take care of your employees and your employees will take care of your customers. We need higher wages across the board..
I can only state for the Longview mill to keep any Maintenance personnel around, wages will need to increase by a minimum of $10-12hr. or we will keep losing folks to the mills next door. Best of luck to our bargaining teams.
I don't see anything scheduled for Longview sort yard ???