Bill Kerr Speaks about American paper jobs
June 28, 2022
Who is the Pulp and Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC)?
The PPRC is a grassroots organization led by hourly employees advocating for the U.S. forest products industry. We support policies that encourage economic growth, abundant and sustainable fiber supply, and sensible science-based environmental policies.
The U.S. forest products industry is vitally important to our nation’s economy, employing approximately 950,000 people. We rank among the top 10 manufacturers in 45 states and represent four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP).
What does the PPRC do?
We are people dedicated to conserving the environment while taking into account the economic stability of the workforce and our surrounding communities.
- Informelected leaders at the federal, state and local level on issues impacting the forest products industry.
- Ensure that there is sufficient time for compliance when new legislative or regulatory changes go into effect.
- Encourage that environmental policy and regulatory decisions be based on sound science while also considering the cost-benefit.
- Educate our coworkers, communities and other stakeholders about policy issues impacting our industry.
Why was the PPRC formed?
After years of witnessing flawed policies that hurt the forest products industry in the Pacific Northwest, it was evident that the voice of the worker was not being heard. The PPRC gives workers a voice.
Onerous regulations have resulted in facility closures, job losses, slowed job growth and diminished competitive advantages in the U.S. and abroad.
The PPRC is the unifying voice of the forest products industry to ensure that our real-world perspectives are considered in all policy and regulatory decisions that impact our jobs and communities.
Paper Industry Facts:
- Produce recyclable products from a renewable resource
- Account for approximately four percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufacturing over $200 billion in products annually
- Payroll of approximately $50 billion annually
- Employ over 950,000 hardworking Americans and supports more than twice that many jobs throughout the supply chain
- Responsible for the U.S. having over 20 percent more trees than we did 50 years ago
The PPRC gives ground floor workers a voice.
How does the PPRC accomplish its goals?
The PPRC has become the nation’s premier grassroots organization for the forest products industry by remaining non-partisan and advocating for reasonable solutions to real-world issues impacting the jobs and communities where we work and live.
Membership
Companies Represented
Unions Represented
Media
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Contact
Great Lakes Region
N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa
Great Lakes Region Director
Tim Wegner
Packaging Corp of America
USW Local 2-159
International Falls, MN 56649
timothywegner@packagingcorp.com
1st Great Lakes Special Projects Director
Bill Schwalbach
Ahlstrom
USW Local 2-20
Kaukauna, WI 54130
william.schwalbach@ahlstrom-munksjo.com
2nd Great Lakes Special Projects Director
Dan Gignac
Ahlstrom
USW Local 2-15
Rhinelander, WI 54501
Northeast Region
- Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, & Delaware
Northeast Region Director
Jim Arnold
Pixelle Specialty Solutions
USW Local 1303
Hanover, PA 17331
Jim.Arnold@Pixelle.com
1st Region
Special Projects Director
Jason Joiner
Sylvamo
USW Local 497
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Jason.Joiner@sylvamo.com
2nd Region
Special Projects Director
Craig Miller
Westrock
Harford City, IN
USW Local 7-1106
columbo1208@yahoo.com
Southeast Region
- Georgia, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Florida
PPRC Chairman
Southeast Region Director
David Wise
WestRock
USW Local #9-1877
Florence, SC 29505
david.wise@westrock.com
1st Region
Special Projects Director
Eddie Pratt
Georgia Pacific
IBEW Local 1980
Blakely, GA 39823
michael.pratt@gapac.com
2nd Region
Special Projects Director
Rodney Rowser
WestRock
USW Local 9-719
Demopolis, AL 36732
Rodney.rowser@westrock.com
Southern Pine Region
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, & Arkansas
Southern Pine Region
Director
Clay Duke
Evergreen Packaging
IBEW Local 2033
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Clay.Duke@everpack.com
1st Region Special Projects
Director
Robert Van Pelt
International Paper
USW Local 1398
Orange, TX 77632
Robtvanpelt35@gmail.com
2nd Region Special Projects
Director
Trollis Hickman
Packaging Corp of America
USW Local 13-725
DeRidder, LA 70634
Trollishickman@packagingcorp.com
Western/Rocky Mountain Region
Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, & Alaska
Western/Rocky Mountain Region Director
Joe Merriman
Georgia Pacific
USW Local 12-1097
Wauna, OR 97016
Joseph.Merriman@gapac.com
1st Western/Rocky Mountain Region
Special Projects Director
Open
2nd Western Region
Special Projects Director
Open
National Administrative Positions
- Information Technology Director
David Cothren, USW Local 13-1149
Graphic Packaging International
Queen City, TX 75572
David.Cothren@graphicpkg.com - Internal Communication Director
Lloyd Allen, USW Local 9-983
Graphic Packaging International
Augusta, GA 30906
Lloyd.Allen@graphicpkg.com - External Communication Director
Doug Kinsey, IAM Local 414
International Paper Company
Rome, GA 30165
James.Kinsey@ipaper.com - Scheduling Director
Glenda Thompson, USW Local 9-425
WestRock Company
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
Glenda@pprc.info
National Special Projects Coordinators at Large
- Vince Geiser, NSC Recording Secretary
IBEW Local 464
WestRock Company
Covington, VA 24426
james.geiser@westrock.com - Andy Weeks, USW Local 9-978
Packaging Corporation of America
Counce, TN 38326
weeksworks4@gmail.com, aweekspprc@outlook.com - Matt Hall, IBEW Local 464
WestRock Company
Covington, VA 24426
matt.hall@westrock.com - Jason Etheridge, USW Local 9-0425
WestRock Company
Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
jasonetheridge78@yahoo.com
Executive Team
- Clay Duke, Executive Director
clay.duke@everpack.com | Pine Bluff, AR - David Wise, Chairman
david.wise@westrock.com | Florence, SC - Matt Hall, Vice Chairman
matt.hall@westrock.com | Covington, VA
© 2022 PPRC All Rights Reserved