50 YEARS AGO

Mill workers to take wage cuts

Mechanicville paperworkers voted by a margin of nearly 3 to 1 to take wage cuts and reduced benefits in an attempt to keep the Westvaco mill in operation under new management after June 1, the date Westvaco was scheduled to shut down operations. The vote of Local 678 of the United Pulp and Paperworkers was 214 in favor of the contract amendments and 85 opposed. About 550 members were eligible to vote. The M-7 Associates group was attempting to secure financial backing for operation of the mill. A spokesman for the group noted that with the labor contract assured, money had been secured and potential financiers might be more willing to invest. Union local president Leo Piroli said, “As far as the contract goes, it setting us back 20 years. We had two strikes to gain what we have in the present contract with Westvaco. We’re tearing up that contract.”

—Times Union, April 10, 1971