ESPANOLA—While the idling of the Domtar mill is moving forward, government funding has now been secured to help a majority of its workers find new employment.
“We found out last night that funding has been successfully announced for the new employment action centre that will go towards helping provide things such as training, computers and other initiatives for employees,” said Jerry Logan, Unifor representative. “It is a bright spot in an otherwise very down time for the employees.”
Mr. Logan said a grand opening for the centre is expected to take place on November 15. The centre will be open for a year beginning November 1. “We expect the centre will assist 300 employees to help them find new employment and move on from Domtar.” He pointed out the funding provided by the province is on top of funding provided previously through the employer.
“The paper machines will continue operating until around Christmas and then the employees in that department will be laid off,” said Mr. Logan. “The first set of layoffs will take place November 30, with the second round of layoffs to take place around December 18 and some employees will be laid off May 31.
Mr. Logan said the union and the company have come to terms on the idle agreement, ensuring there will be approximately 14 workers who will be maintained on site to keep the mill ready for start-up if it comes out of the idling phase. He said job fairs have been held with some success and support services are in place for the workers needing assistance, with severance packages having been offered to the members.
On November 30, operations at the mill will be run with a skeleton crew.
The property remains for sale by the owner, Paper Excellence, but if it fails to sell or comes back into production, the company has agreed to meet with the union once again to discuss layoffs.
The last bale of pulp was sent down the line in September and will be preserved for history, to be either put on display in Espanola or offered to the Massey Area Museum.
