Following nearly a year of planning, preliminary meetings and then formal negotiations, United Steelworkers Union members from 13 different paper mill sites ratified a Master Economic Agreement with Georgia-Pacific, establishing the primary economic arrangement for the upcoming bargaining cycle.

"Because Georgia-Pacific is such a prominent employer in the industry and our members made great strides in bargaining, this Agreement represents another historic milestone in the paper sector," said USW International Vice President Jon Geenen, who heads the USW paper sector collective bargaining program. "This deal provides security and stability for both our members and the company."

The Master Economic Agreement provides wage improvements in each year, locks in key features and cost sharing mechanisms in the health care plan, as well as improves the Defined Benefit Pension Plan and the 401k Plan. The Agreement also provides a path and process for the parties to use locally to negotiate over certain local conditions not covered by the economic master.

"We could not be more proud of the dedication, time and energy our locals committed to this effort to ensure a good outcome," said USW Secretary-Treasurer Stan Johnson, who chaired the negotiations with Geenen. "The approximate 3 to 1 margin by which the agreement was ratified tells us our members realize this Agreement is another step forward, and in this difficult economic environment that is a real accomplishment."