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.

Issues

Closures Maps

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Membership

Companies Represented
Unions Represented

Media

We Are American Manufacturing Jobs: My Paper Mill Story

January 29, 2019

By David M. WiseWestRockPulp and Paperworkers’ Resource CouncilNational Steering Committee Chairman I got my start in the forest products industry 26 years ago after serving in the US Army. When I came home (Desert Shield /Storm), there weren’t a lot of good, secure family-wage jobs…

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The Pulp and Paperworkers’ Resource Council (PPRC) Co-Host with Management…

September 15, 2018

ATLANTA – On Wednesday, September 12, 2018 the PPRC, a grassroots organization of hourly employees of the paper and wood products industry, along with Management leaders from several different companies, co‐hosted a joint Labor/Management Conference. The purpose of this conference was to highlight the need…

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There is No Better Time to Provide Our Industry With…

April 30, 2018

By Donna HarmanPresident & CEOAmerican Forest & Paper Association We take advantage of every opportunity to advance realistic public policy that supports the pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products industry and its hardworking employees. Right now, opportunities are abundant for common sense federal regulatory reforms…

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Contact

Great Lakes Region

N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa

Great Lakes Region Director

Dan Gignac
Ahlstrom-Munksjö
USW Local 2-15
Rhinelander, WI
daniel.gignac@ahlstrom-munksjo.com

I-Great Lakes Region Special Projects Director

Bill Schwalbach
Ahlstrom-Munksjö
USW Local 2-20
Kaukauna, WI
william.schwalbach@ahlstrom-munksjo.co

2nd Great Lakes Region special projects Director                                                                                                         Tim Wegner,  Packaging Corporation of America          International Falls MN.     USW Local 159                       TimothyWeger@packagingcorp.com

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

  • Craig Miller, Westrock                                    Hartford City , IN     USW local 7-1106 Columbo12003@yahoo.com

2nd Region
Special Projects Director

Jason Joiner
International Paper
USW Local 497
Ticonderoga, NY 12883
Jason.Joiner@ipaper.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

Jerry M. Brindle
New Indy Container Board
USW Local 925
Catawba, SC 29704
Jerrymb2@gmail.com

2nd Region
Special Projects Director

Rodney Rowser , Westrock                Demopolis,AL.    USW local 9-719   Rodney.Rower@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

Bill Moyers
Georgia Pacific
IAM Local 1362
Crossett, AR 71635
Bill.Moyers@gapac.com

2nd Special Projects Director

Trollis Hickman, Packaging Corporation of America,  DeRidder LA.                                             USW Local 13-0725  Trollishickman@outlook.com

 

Western/Rocky Mountain Region

Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, & Alaska

Western/Rocky Mountain Region Director

William ” Bill” Kerr,  Georgia Pacific      Warrenton, OR.     USW Local-1097  William.Kerr@gapac.com

1st Western/Rocky Mountain Region
Special Projects Director

Jason Cowles
International Paper
AWPPW Local 667
Springfield, OR
jason.cowles@ipaper.com

2nd Western Region
Special Projects Director

Bob Feagles , Georgia Pacific                   Springfield, OR.     USW Local 1234  robert.fegles@gapac.com

Home

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
    Mike Skenadore, USW Local 2-327
    Georgia Pacific Corporation
    De Per, WI 54115
    MichaelSkenadore@yahoo.com
  • Scheduling Director
    Glenda Thompson, USW Local 9-425
    WestRock Company
    Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
    Glenda@pprc.info

National Special Projects Coordinators at Large

Executive Team

  • Don Wesson, Executive Director
    don@pprc.info | McGehee, AR
  • David Wise, Chairman
    david.wise@westrock.com | Florence, SC
  • Matt Hall, Vice Chairman
    matt.hall@westrock.com| Covington, VA

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