Focus of Potlatch Corp. labor dispute is becoming common; Companies want workers to pay share of health insurance

The issue dividing Potlatch Corp. and members of the United Paperworkers International Union in Lewiston has become somewhat of a trend in health care insurance, according to Washington state insurance officials.

Potlatch is asking UPIU members to help pay their monthly health insurance premiums, which is the same thing Boeing Corp. in Seattle asked its machinists last year.

"It's clearly a trend," said Jim Stevenson, spokesman for the insurance commissioner's office. "It's been going on for some time."

Last year's dispute between Boeing and its workers resulted in a strike by the machinists. The company backed off on its request, but came up with a financial incentive for workers to leave the old plan and join a new managed care plan that was less expensive for the company.

Potlatch, by offering a choice of three plans, also may be attempting to entice workers into accepting managed care, which is one of three options.

Managed care plans are scheduled to be available to Lewiston-Clarkston Valley employers through MSB/Blue Shield Jan. 1.

Meanwhile, UPIU negotiators met with Potlatch representatives Thursday, according to the union's negotiations' hotline.

The report to the membership said only that the two sides "continued working on medical and open economic issues."

They are scheduled to meet again today.

Last week, a majority of UPIU workers rejected the company's latest offering and authorized union leaders to call for a strike.

Neither side had anything to say publicly Thursday.

The UPIU is negotiating a contract for some 1,150 paper-side workers at Potlatch. The contract also is the same one that covers another 50 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.