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FAQs

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting this site which has been developed to provide information and updates to our Neenah Cold Spring Facility employees, their families, and our community. The negotiation process is important and helps continue our investment in our people and our facility to drive long-term growth. We are committed to working with United Steelworkers Local 2-482 to reach an agreement that best meets the needs of the team and supports our business goals of safely producing quality products.

This site will feature updates, information, and answers to the questions you may have, but remember that the Union is your exclusive bargaining representative and that K-C will only deal with the Union on bargaining-related issues

STATEMENT

FAQs

This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section provides information on general topics related to the negotiations and the Neenah Cold Spring Facility. The FAQs will be updated as needed.

The contract spells out all of the terms that the company and union agree to, from pay and benefits, to time off and things like seniority and scheduling. In contract negotiations, the company and the union each have a “bargaining team” at the table. The goal is to reach a tentative agreement on the full contract, which usually union members can then vote for or against to ratify a new contract.
Each side is responsible for selecting its team. The company team includes Labor Relations experts and local leaders. They spend a significant amount of time on negotiations, in addition to their regular responsibilities.
We can’t say for sure, but we’re willing to put in whatever time is necessary to draft proposals, explain our positions, and have productive discussions.
Typically negotiations begin with the current contract and either side can submit proposals to change, delete, or add articles. The other side can then accept, reject, or offer a “counter proposal.” A great deal goes into these discussions, including how we work together to ensure we are operating safely, making quality products, and keeping the plant productive.
Generally, only members of the bargaining teams and their invited participants (those with special expertise) can take part in the negotiations.
As always, the NCSF team always has a say in things like quality and safety. When it comes to all matters related to pay, benefits, and the “terms and conditions of employment”, the USW bargaining team exclusively represents plant employees in negotiating a contract.
We’ll be publishing updates about what has occurred in bargaining when appropriate on this web site and expect that your union will share information as well. We hope you’ll take the time to read any updates.
Issues like how much union members pay in dues and union rules are not part of a collective bargaining agreement. Those things are decided by union leadership.
It’s not uncommon for contracts to expire during negotiations. With certain exceptions, the law generally requires bargaining parties to maintain the status quo during bargaining.
All our manufacturing sites in the State of Wisconsin, which includes the Neenah Cold Spring Facility, are unaffected by this announcement.