Layoffs likely at Brooklyn mill: union head

Layoffs are likely at the AbitibiBowater pulp and paper mill in Brooklyn, N.S., the head of the union said Friday.

The Montreal-based company announced Thursday that it will cut production in half at the newsprint operation at the mill in southwest Nova Scotia, and its 300 employees there will work reduced hours.

But Courtney Wentzell, president of Local 141 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, disputes the company's word that production will be cut in half without any layoffs among the 300 workers.

He said there is no agreement to work reduced hours.

"We're not in a work-sharing agreement, and we're not in a reduced hours agreement," Wentzell said. "If it's a permanent closure of one machine, then we would expect that there would be layoffs and there would severance pay.

"Until we get the details, it's a little early for them to be quoting that we're in some kind of a reduced hour program."

Wentzell said it doesn't make sense to shut down one machine because the mill makes money when it's running two machines. He said the company should sell the mill.

"We've said for a long time that we've got to get out from under Abitibi — find a partner and find some customers. It's the only way we're going to make it here," he said.

'We are still alive'

Liverpool Mayor John Leefe said the company's plans to close one of the mill's two machines were known for two weeks in the community.

"We continue, to date, to avoid the deadly bullet. We are still alive, we're still kicking," Leefe said.

But he said the 50 per cent closure will affect all of Queens County because people’s spending power will be decreased. It will also affect the Port of Halifax, he said, because paper is often shipped out of Halifax.

Premier Darrell Dexter said the province will do whatever it can to preserve jobs at the mill.

The premier said he has met with senior company officials and believes the plant in Nova Scotia remains viable.

"They asked us questions about where we could fit in a program of support for them that, I think, I would characterize as being hopeful. In other words, they're looking for ways to ensure that this mill has a future in the province," he said.

"Although this not good news, it is a lot better news than it could have been."

Global drop in demand

The changes are part of a large plan that will see four other plants across Canada close, and about 600 people in other provinces laid off.

AbitibiBowater spokesman Pierre Choquette blamed a worldwide drop in demand for all types of paper.

The mill near Liverpool has had a difficult year, being closed for several weeks at a time.

Last month, it was announced that the mill would close down for five weeks, from Aug. 29 to Oct. 4, the fourth such shutdown since Christmas.