House Resource Committee Hearing
February 4, 2004

Written testimony submitted by:
Patricia (Patti) Barber
International Paper Company – Ticonderoga Mill
Northern Pine Regional Director – Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council
Recording Secretary – PACE Local 1-0005
Telephone – 518-585-5415

My name is Patti Barber and I work for International Paper Company in Ticonderoga, New York. I have worked at International Paper Company for 27 years and 9 of those years as the Recording Secretary for P.A.C.E. Local 1-0005 in our mill. In that time I have witnessed a lot of changes. I am very concerned about the state of our paper industry. We are told that the our economy is growing and that new jobs are being created. The jobs being created are not all manufacturing jobs. Many ofour first generation paper makers are out of jobs. These people are at a time in their lives where they should be thinking about retiring, but instead have lost their jobs. Thousands of these workers who used to make a good wage are wondering where they will find a job that was as good as the one we lost.

I have been a member of the Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council since 1996. I was at a training seminar when 3 gentlemen gave a presentation on the PPRC and why this grassroots organization was created. I saw a video of the devastation that was caused by the Spotted Owl. I witnessed grown men with tears in there eyes as they watched the people in the west talk about how they lost their jobs in paper mills and lumber mills. I knew that I needed to become involved so that hopefully by educating the people in my mill and our children to proper forest management, this sort of disaster would not happen in our home town area. The first meeting I attended was in Redding, California, where I met some of the workers that had lost their jobs. The comment was made that with in four years this would be happening in the east. Six months later came the Maine Referendum with Jonathan Carter. I have been actively involved since then.

Ticonderoga is a small historic town in the northeastern part of New York, on Lake Champlain bordering Vermont. International Paper Company’s Ticonderoga mill is the only major industry in the 6 million acre Adirondack Park. Our mill makes an excellent printing paper product. As I speak today our mill is facing major fiber concerns. Our mill cannot exist without a suitable fiber supply. This year the Northeast has faced many severe weather problems making it hard for fiber supplies to keep the mill satisfied. We run the threat of unning out of fiber. The mill will not survive without fiber to make paper.

International Paper Company’s Ticonderoga mill has spent millions of dollars to keep our mill up to date with EPA’s required pollution standards, conforming to Cluster Rule, MACT I, & MACT II is in the process.

The work force at our mill was over 1200 workers at one time. To date we now have only a little over 600 employees. International Paper Company is the only paper mill in Essex County and the Adirondack Park.

Our country needs to get back those manufacturing jobs that we have lost to foreign countries, which will help, boost our economy. What happened to made in America? Buy USA made products. Most everything that we buy on a daily basis is made in another country. Check the labels in your clothing. Products made in the USA is few and far. When I first became a PPRC member I was asked how many items I bought were made in the USA. That was a tough question and still is. But, I continue to look for that label made in USA.

The Pulp & Paperworkers’ Resource Council believes in seeking a balance between jobs and environment. We feel this can be accomplished given a level playing field.

Please check out the PPRC’s map of all the job losses, the mill and lumber mills that have been closed or curtailed. Where have all these displaced workers gone? Are headed backward to becoming a third world country? Will the United States become national park?

I would like to commend the Resources Committee for working very hard with The PPRC to pass the Healthy Forests Initiative. I would also ask that the Resources Committee continue to work at making sure it is implemented properly so fiber from our national forests can again be a reliable part of the wood supply.

I would also like to as the Resources Committee to help in amending the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to protect private landowners and workers like me whose livelihood is derived from growing timber on private lands. The ESA is being used by environmental groups to de-industrialize America and make growing timber unprofitable to private landowners.

In closing, please think of my co-workers at home and how they will manage if they should lose their jobs. Put a face to the circles on that map that shows 100 workers here and 200 workers in another spot. All those dots have a name. The PPRC will continue to show in an effort to keep our jobs in the paper industry. I commend all those who are overseas not only our military who are fighting to keep America safe, but for those who can’t find good paying jobs in our country and have made the sacrifice to support their families in another country.

A special thank you to the Resources Committee for taking the time to listen to our testimonies. The PPRC looks forward to continuing to work with the committee in making our country a better place.

Submitted by,

Patricia (Patti) Barber