ESPANOLA—Lemonade is the order of the day when it comes to dealing with the lemons of the indefinite closure of the Domtar paper mill in Espanola. UNIFOR, the union representing the workers and company representatives are working with the union membership to secure a softer landing for those being displaced.
Not everyone will be losing their jobs, notes UNIFOR rep Jerry Logan, as the union and the company has come to terms on the “idle agreement” for the shuttering of the plant facilities. “Generally, in these situations, we are negotiating a ‘closure agreement’,” said Mr. Logan. “But we are calling this an ‘idle agreement’.”
As part of the agreement, a shutdown crew will be in place for the foreseeable future to ensure the plant infrastructure is maintained. “The number we are talking is around 14 workers, but that could fluctuate,” said Mr. Logan.
Domtar set up a job fair for the employees to meet with prospective employers and an application from the union went to the federal government on September 28 for funding for a Workers’ Action Centre that would run from November 1 of this year until November of next year.
Should that plan be approved, then the Domtar Unifor Action Centre (DUAC) would also employ some of the Domtar employees with supports including preparing resumés and a host of other employment services aimed at ensuring workers and their families would find security going forward.
Domtar has also committed to providing around $175,000 for the centre.
“Hopefully, the DUAC application gets approved,” said Mr. Logan, who admitted the past couple of weeks have been the toughest of his career.
Domtar has also committed to paying eight hours of pay for each employee’s intake into the centre, albeit on their own time. “We wanted it to be during work time,” said Mr. Logan, but the employer insisted that it be on the worker’s own time.”
Me. Logan noted that, should the DUAC plan funding be approved, it will be important to get employees in the door. “There will be peer-to-peer help available,” he said, “but we need them to come in if we are going to be able to assist them.”
Come November 30, operations at the Domtar paper mill in Espanola will be shuttered for an indefinite period—but in excess of one year. The Expositor will be following developments on the DUAC as they unfold.
