Truckers protest Plum Creek
Truckers protest Plum Creek
By HEIDI DESCH
Hungry Horse News
About 30 logging trucks lined the edge of Flathead County Fairgrounds Tuesday as drivers gathered to rally against Plum Creek Timber Co.
Drivers were refusing to deliver logs to the company until it agrees to increase pay for services.
"The only way they will talk with us is if we shut down," claimed trucker Ed Hawkinson of Kalispell.
Hawkinson said Plum Creek is suppose to renegotiate the trucker rates every year but hasn't, even though operating costs have risen.
The truckers claimed they're not being reimbursed at a fair rate. They claim the rates they're paid aren't keeping pace with industry averages for trucks that are even smaller than theirs are.
For example, they claim they're paid about $68 an hour on average. Meanwhile a dump truck, which is smaller, has an industry average rate of $70 to $75 an hour.
Another problem, driver Jake Johnson said, is truckers don't have proper representation.
"If (Plum Creek) would just come and talk to us I bet we could resolve this," said Johnson, a Columbia Falls based driver.
But drivers don't deal directly with Plum Creek when it comes to pay - the logging contractors actually negotiate with Plum Creek and then set how much the drivers are paid based on their contract.
Johnson, who also works with F. H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co., said other companies allow drivers to communicate with them directly, something that would be beneficial when dealing with the company.
But Plum Creek doesn't plan on changing its policy.
Henry Brown, human resources director for manufacturing at Plum Creek, said that the current policy is for the company to contract with the loggers and not with the truck drivers.
He said he was unable to comment on any future plans of the company.
Tom Ray, Plum Creek's regional general manager, said the company tries to set a fair rate for truck drivers.
Ray was unconcerned with what the strike might do.
"Right now we're more affected by the weather," he said.
For some, if the rally does not bring results it could mean an end to business.
"We have to have change today," Hawkinson said.
He said that if things aren't resolved he may be forced to close his business.
Hawkinson has already lost trucks and drivers because of the Plum Creek wages.
Several of his drivers have left to take construction jobs because of higher wages offered.
"I would love to give my guys more money, but it isn't in trucking," he said.
One driver has already stopped hauling logs.
Lance McCully of Kalispell has both a log truck and dump truck that he operates.
McCully, who has been driving off and on since 1994, stopped using his log truck in February because of the rising costs, among other things.
He said the dump truck is much cheaper to operate and if Plum Creek doesn't increase its reimbursement he'll be forced to stop running it all together.
"We just want it to be fair," McCully said. "Nobody wants to put them out of business."