Union to help laid-off mill workers search for jobs

The union representing workers about to be laid off from Kruger Inc's pulp and paper mill in Corner Brook says it will help find them new jobs, but the work will likely be in western Canada.

The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, which represents many workers at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, will hold a job fair to present options for the laid off workers.

Kruger Inc., the mill's owner, laid off nine people in Corner Brook at the end of January. Three dozen more employees will be let go in March.

"It's brutal on the community, it's brutal on our members," remarked Dave Coles, the national president of the CEP.

Coles said his office will try to help laid-off workers find other jobs, but those positions will likely be in western Canada. 

"The problem with that is that people have to work away and that in itself is very hard on the community and the families", acknowledged Coles.

He admitted the newsprint business today is a tough one.

Mill 'not sustainable'

Gabriella Sabau, an economist at Memorial University's Grenfell Campus, said she could see last week's cuts coming.   

"It's not sustainable because people are reading most of their news now online, and they don't need the newspapers," Sabau pointed out. "So this is what tells me that this mill is not sustainable and is not going to last long."

Sabau added that the city of Corner Brook needs to find other industries to diversify its economy.