267 



April 24, 1989 



Mr. Cliairman and members of the coranittee, thank you for the oppeirtunity to 

 testify at this hearing. My name is Rodger Arriola. I am a 34 year resident 

 of Ketchikan and an employee of Ketchikan Pulp Ccmpany for 15 years. I am a 

 employee representative, affiliated vdth the Association of Western Pulp euid 

 Paper Vtoricers, Ward Cove Local 783. Local 783 represents 308 of the 374 

 hourly employees at KPC. T\(*d weeks ago, when I learned of this oppertunity to 

 testify. I began to solicit support frcm oo-woricers on the issue of the 

 Ttongass. Many were reluctant to support written or vocal opposition to KPC 

 managements position, mainly out of fear of losing their jobs. On four 

 previous occasions mill workers and this comnunity have been held economic 

 hostage to KPC's threat of shutting the pulp mill down. Many of my co- 

 workers feel something needs to be said and done oonceming this sccure tactic 

 of "crying wolf" and the erroneous statements ocxiceming wages, benefits and 

 profits shared "equally by all" employees at KPC. In spite of devestating 

 wage and benefit cuts, and a recent attempt by management to oust AWPPW from 

 the mill, KPC employees vdsh to make it known that we have not shut the mill 

 down by going out on strite or other means. In fact, record production levels 

 and record profits have been achieved during this time. Yet, once again when 

 KPC comes under the scrutiny for mismanagement of our resources, they are the 

 ones who threaten to shut the mill down. Ketchilcan! Mill enployees! When is 

 axjugh, enough? W6 have already felt the travesty of having the economic 

 cairpet literadly pulled out from under us by present KPC raanagemait who felt 

 the need to texminate our contract with them and implement new ccxiditions 

 which were favorable to them. When mill management talks about a restructured 

 operation and a reduction of internal costs that allow them to be competitive, 

 mill employees know what they are talking about. Devestating reductions in 

 wages and benefits, poor labor relations to the point, KPC employees are the 

 lowest paid workers in the entire pulp and paper industry cxi the west coast. 

 KPC wants writtQi guarantees from the Federal Government, a committment in the 

 form of the present contracts. Yet KPC enployees have tried in vain for 

 nearly five years and have not achieved the goal of obtaining a fair ocxitract 

 with preseit mill management. 



