ABERCROMBIE?POINT?- Just weeks after the provincial government announced it was infusing $15 million in cash into Northern Pulp in the form of an interest-free loan, rumours of another layoff of workers have begun circulating in the community.
It's rumoured that at least 22 people will be laid off, with some saying the layoffs will come as early as May 3.
Pictou East MLA Clarrie MacKinnon said he began getting calls about the layoffs on Monday. He says he's concerned about the fact that provincial money has been recently poured into the pulp mill - and now there are potential layoffs.
"It's very concerning," he said. "Part of the reason the province came up with the loan for Northern Pulp was to keep the facility going and keep the workers down there employed."
While MacKinnon says he understands that the company must keep the mill viable, he's hoping both the employer and the union will be able to come to a "satisfactory solution."
Representatives from the company and the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers union Local 440 did not return calls on Thursday, with union reps saying they were still in meetings late Thursday afternoon.
This would be the second reduction of the workforce Northern Pulp has seen in the past few months. In October, 34 workers were given early retirement packages.
More layoffs rumoured for Northern Pulp mill
- Published on April 24th, 2009
- Published on December 30th, 2009
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Staff ~ The News
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Comments
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- wayne
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:39:34
Hey Bill from pictou. The mill is NOT a TAKER but a maker my friend. Unlike Michelin who had it's hand out for gov't money more times than I can imagine. Plus the spin off jobs in the thousands thanks to the local pulp mill.
The mill is not the problem but the new american owners, an our provincial gov't who let the mill be sold to them( and I use the term sold very loosley as they were given 20 million to take the mill of Neenah Papers hand. That company raped the mill of all it's lands , sold it and then gave the mill away, and the govt' didn;t do a thing to stop them. Wish we had a danny williams in Nova Scotia.
So before you start showing everyone your ignorance, why don;t you get more information. -
- Steve
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:39:04
who is the big company
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- Steve
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:33:23
who is the big company nanaha paper
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- Laziest
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:31:35
.
Maybe they could firce the laid off workers to go and plant some trees. The amount of clear cutting done in this province, that is never replanted is astonishing.
Liscomb is a disaster area - go take a look, people. Take a look on Google Earth at what a paper industry does to the province. And now they take our tax money - and still lay workers off!
Yeah - thanks for nothing pulp industry. -
- Milly
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:23:13
Wow- you say that the workers say to hell with the company but they gave in to concessions tonight and the lay-off slips will be torn up, they gave in to concessions three months ago and now their membership is down well over 50 members in three months, so get your facts straight before you shoot off about the workers!
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- bill
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:20:50
The $15 million loan to Northern Pulp was an election giveaway. Nearly every Nova Scotian, including politicians, know this. This company is a taker, NOT a giver. Now the province not only has an environmental mess but also a financial mess on its dirty hands.instead,what if the $15 million was infused into Nova Scotia Community College at Stellarton to start a course in wind turbine repair and maintenance ? North America will need an estimated 160,000 of such trained individuals in the next 10 years. Wouldn't this be a good way to get the poor workers at Northern Pulp trained to work in a healthier and stable envioronment? The local college itself would directly benefit the local economy if such a unique course was offered nationally and internationally. Can't our politicians think of better ideas than pumping our money into the deadend pulp industry? If they could, that would get them votes as well.
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- Anon
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:18:37
Hey Alice, this story is about the pulp mill layoffs not the accident. Also, if you read the story, the accident happened at the intersection of Mac Gregor Ave and Foster Ave., not the Westville Road, but nice try trying to stir the pot!
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- Max
- - January 18th, 2010 at 13:05:06
You have to look at the big picture - the market for the mill's product is dwindling & will eventually peter out. Large daily newspaper chains in the US are closing down in favour of an online newpaper, hence the need for newsprint paper will be drastically reduced just to mention one of their products. Also their method of production is not environmentally acceptable to overseas markets who won't buy their product. No one wants to see good workers lose their jobs, but if it happens they'll have to do what everyone else in other industries who have lost their jobs do - retrain for something else. I hope the government of NS doesn't start throwing good money after bad trying to prop up a failing industry nationwide.
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- Alice
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:59:13
notice the scene and story on late breaking ngnews regarding the accident on westville road,most likely there will be no comments open in tomorrows paper-so here goes,imagine the extra amount of traffic at that intersection if the proposed new multi recreational center is built there,just imagine all that extra traffic-hope the wreckers and EHS's are prepared for the onslaught..
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- wow
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:51:00
Your losing your mind wayne ,Bill stated a fact and all you did was shoot off to him about closing the mill.The problem with the workers at the mill is that they think they are worth all the money they make and to hell with the company.It is kind of sad in a way that the workers dont see the writing on the wall.Just like the auto workers ,think things will last forever.Really sad!
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- bill
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:49:00
The $15 million loan to Northern Pulp was an election giveaway. Nearly every Nova Scotian, including politicians, know this. This company is a taker, NOT a giver. Now the province not only has an environmental mess but also a financial mess on its dirty hands.instead,what if the $15 million was infused into Nova Scotia Community College at Stellarton to start a course in wind turbine repair and maintenance ? North America will need an estimated 160,000 of such trained individuals in the next 10 years. Wouldn't this be a good way to get the poor workers at Northern Pulp trained to work in a healthier and stable envioronment? The local college itself would directly benefit the local economy if such a unique course was offered nationally and internationally. Can't our politicians think of better ideas than pumping our money into the deadend pulp industry? If they could, that would get them votes as well.
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- wayne
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:47:52
Bil,, Bill ,, Bill,,
Someone should take your computer away from you,,lol.
My god man, comparing Northern Pulp to South America Pulp.Well my educated friend thats like comparing apples to oranges,, there both fruit so they must be and taste the same.
And one more thing, unlike South America, here in Canada we have environmental laws,, regulations,, and pay taxes,, alot of taxes. So if your soo informed and in love with the thought of this plant closing,, why don;t you refrain from saying your from Pictou and just move to Brazil since you worship them so much with there 2 dollar a day pay, no environmental laws like ours. I hope your not on pention, welfare or EI cause we do pay into them, the max into them each year. -
- wayne
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:41:33
wow my friend., the price of pulp is up, all the pulp we make in the next 2 years is sold. We just signed a big deal to provide pulp to kimberley Clark and we are now sellign pulp to China and Korea.
We are not facing the hard times as the poor auto workers, who are suffering from their companies mis-management. We are suffering from the greedy USA owners who are using the recession as a way to rip off the workers, their families and the community as a whole, So get your head out of the clouds and come back with a retort thats more earthly and makes sense.
Hmm do you and bill hang out alot or even brothers, cause you both have the same mentality of enjoying other peoples misery. -
- William
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:39:10
To the families who depend on the mill either in the plant or the numerous spin off jobs for their income, hang in their hopefully the pulp market will rebound. Some take joy in your worries and celebrate out of ignorance, jealousy or both, ignore their small mindless. If this plant fails not only will you suffer all of our county will feel the negative effects.
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- Tim
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:34:58
Great! Can't wait for the mill to finally close and then we can knock the eyesore down. Its not worth the money or the handful of jobs ay longer.
tc -
- wow
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:33:46
Sorry their milly,giving up you food vouchers and 70 cents an hour hardly would be classified as big concessions.Why do you think the company is wanting to reduce the workforce,because they are making too much money.You sound like poor wayne,with your head in the clouds think this dream job will go on forever.
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- fellow
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:32:05
Well considering some plants for Michelin are now work sharing down to four days a week maybe the union at the paper mill has to offer the same ? Seems to me there is no union at Michelin and hence steady work despite their main customer the auto industry being on the ropes.
The paper business is in decline and it may be part of a job or no job at all . Look at Bowater in Queens County that is partly owned by the Washington post.
As to investment funds in the US and our 15 million well how much is are the investors in for on their end? Probably much more then 15 million. If you don't have profits then you don't have a business . If you have to go and hire John Hamm and then have a 15 million dollar loan from the province then you probably don't have a Business worth Saving .
That is why a business like the Abercrombie mill ends up like it does . Canadians get too used to the Government being a factor in business poses the qwuestion why would any private group with capital want to be involved in a Nova Scotia economy run by bumpkits? -
- Soreass
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:31:30
Try wiping your but with a plastic bag!!!!
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- Steve
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:20:40
who is the big company nanaha papor kc.
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- bill
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:13:31
hi all, just remember that the South Americans have huge kraft pulp mills that are 100 times more efficient then our mill can ever be. check it out......
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- JM
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:10:02
This is a very mild string of comments about the mills unfortunate layoffs...I would like to invite the idiots back that ran Michelin into the ground last week for announcing that after seeing a bit of stability in the market, recinded the layoff notice even though they didn't have to!! Now that is a company we should all be proud of. Also, if any of you remember the comments from last week...one person complained that Michelin had a surplus in its pension fund. Dah! Thats the only way that the employees will have a sustained pension fund. I feel sorry for the Mill employees, they are victims of the times.
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- Mildred
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:02:35
Just for clarification Northern Pulp product is Kraft pulp. This is not used in newsprint but in high quality paper products including toilet tissue, tissues, paper towels, etc. A forest industry analyst appeared on ROB TV last week and stated that newsprint was indeed in trouble but the market for Kraft pulp will rebound. The mill at Pictou has filled many European orders.
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- wayne
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:02:29
my job will be here long enough for my grandkids to retire!
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- soreass
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:01:51
Those who know what is actually going on at the mill, know.
And those who don't .......................write about it here! -
- Steve
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:00:30
Was there any covenant in place with what the money could be used for? Did they have to maintain a certain employment level in order to receive this government loan? Has it all gone to the US investment firms, executive bonuses, etc? Did the province take an equity stake in the business?
If this layoff takes place the government should immediately call the loan. Northern Pulp is not acting in good faith. The only one they care about is their US investors, the people it employs is secondary.
This is likely the just the beginning. Northern Pulp will likely dissolve and the taxpayers will be faced with replacing the 15 million as part of the current year's deficit. Nova Scotia hasn't had any speakable tax breaks in the last decade or more, and for what I see we can't expect one anytime soon. -
- wow
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:58:31
Their is a guy that will be on here im sure ,joe i think is his name he professes to know everything about the mill although he doesnt seem to think its in any trouble.This money is just a band aid for the mill ,i believe they announced a big shutdown with the money ,now it is just a week i think with minimal repairs.I hate to see the workers at the mill lose those high paying jobs but i will give the mill 2 years at best and it will be closing its doors.The paper industry is as bad as the auto industry in that no one is using paper anymore ,think about it everything is stored on computer disc and most messages are email.Maybe the town of Pictou will be smart enough to develop our water view property if the mill is bulldozed.
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- Laziest
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:58:20
@ William
But I'm sure mother nature will breathe a sigh of relief when that 'company' shuts down.
Why do you not see trees being replanted in Northern NS anymore?
Good riddance to a poor corporate neighbour - who has done NOTHING to improve the environment. -
- wow
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:57:04
You just proved my point Wayne ,very sad how you have your head in the clouds.You job will be gone shortely man sorry to say .
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- soreass
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:54:56
Hey wow, try the plastic!!!!
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- Anon
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:52:50
Bill, if you check out the South American mill's product, you will see that they make eucalyptus pulp which is comparible to hardwood pulp not the softwood kraft made here! Check it out!
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- town
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:50:48
Surprise.
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- wayne
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:40:42
Hey Max
I see another ignorant person trying to seem smart.
We don;t make newsprint at the mill, we make pulp, which in turn gets sold to a finish mill where its transformed into tissiue, diapers, paper products, etc,etc.
Not newsprint.
Geez people!!!
