Weyerhaeuser Strike Continues Into Fourth Week; Employees to Vote on Latest Proposal

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The fourth week of Weyerhaeuser employees’ strike began with workers preparing to vote on the company’s latest contract proposal. 

But because the terms are still short of what the workers demand, Lewis County’s Weyerhaeuser employees expect their fellow union members to vote down the proposal and continue the strike. 

“We want something better,” Weyerhaeuser mechanic Wayne Pace told The Chronicle on Tuesday while picketing outside a company research facility on Pearl Street in Centralia. “So we’re just kind of hanging tough here and holding our ground, you know? And as long as it takes, we’re going to hang around until we get something that’s worth voting ‘yes’ on.” 

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Woodworkers District Lodge W24 authorized its members to strike against Weyerhaeuser on Sept. 2 after workers struck down the company’s contract proposal. Approximately 1,100 Weyerhaeuser employees in Oregon and Washington officially went on strike Monday, Sept. 12. 

Employees’ issues with Weyerhaeuser’s contract proposal include low wage increases, cuts to vacation time, no improvements to retirement benefits and a requirement for workers to pay their own health care premiums and deductibles, according to previous Chronicle reporting. 

Community support in the form of people and businesses stopping by the picket line on Pearl Street in Centralia to deliver coffee, donuts and sandwiches has kept employees’ spirits up, Pace said. 

But workers are feeling the financial strain after three full weeks on strike. 

“it’s been a struggle for some of us, when it comes down to it, not working and receiving really low pay for strike pay,” Pace said. “But I’d say we’re all holding together and staying strong.” 



Due to financial need, some striking workers have taken better-paying jobs at other companies since the strike began, Pace said. 

“That's something's gonna happen and, you know, when it comes down to it, we have a lot of skilled employees … and if Weyerhaeuser can't put out something decent there for us that we feel is worth ratifying on a contract, then I'm sure they're gonna lose quite a few more,” Pace said.  

The strike’s financial impact on Weyerhaeuser won’t be fully apparent until Weyerhaeuser releases its third quarter results on Oct. 27, but Weyerhaeuser’s stocks have fared poorly against competitors since the strike began last month, according to reporting by Oregon Business. 

The company will hold a live webcast and conference call at 7 a.m. on Oct. 28 to discuss its quarter three results.

Weyerhaeuser has not responded to The Chronicle’s request for comment.