The mill was closed for five weeks last Dec. and Jan. The latest announcement was released to employees 9 a.m. today (March 4).
Bowater spokesperson Robin Anthony said, "It is a market related down time."
She explained the forestry industry is facing "very challenging times" on a global basis but that, "The mill is positioned to supply the global markets when the markets are there. Unfortunately, we don't have the orders at this time but we will obviously continue to serve markets around the globe as we have always done."
She said the advantage during good economic times is related, in part, by the plant's ice-free harbour and proximity to Halifax.
During the last shut-down, non-unionized employees continued to work, according to union officials at the time.
Anthony said, "We will be following the same staffing standards used across AbitibiBowater (parent company) for production curtailments." Union officials have stated non-unionized workers will once again keep their jobs.
About 300 work at the plant of which approximately 250 are unionized, according to the company. The union disputes these figures. Officials state the number of union employees is close to 300 while the number of non-unionized workers is closer to 75.
Anthony added plans for the shut down are at an early stage and there will be limited staffing requirements that will be identified over the subsequent week.
An employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, said many workers will be hurt by the shut-down because they have already utilized their vacation time during the last closing. He said families with mortgages and children will obviously suffer.
"We were expecting it to come but we didn't expect it to occur so soon. We were expecting it in the summer or fall."
He said, however, he is positive about the future of the mill, especially with book paper orders and possible new book paper orders in the future.
For example, he said a trial order for a company in Germany has just been sent.
He added millions of dollars have been invested in the plant over the past two decades as well, unlike some mills.
He hopes, however, the company doesn't lose orders during the shut-down as many union officials believe happened last Dec. This has also not been confirmed.
Bowater Brooklyn plant shutting down for another five weeks
-
Published on
March 4, 2009
- Published on January 31, 2010
-
Mark Roberts/The
UPDATED
Bowater Mersey Paper Company Ltd. in Brooklyn is shutting down from March 15-to-April 20, the second time in two months.
- Rate
- Top of the page
