Resolute Shuts Down Remaining Machine at Fort Francis
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Resolute, which reports that 150 workers will be impacted (notices were given out last week), said the shutdown is a result of poor market conditions, but company president Richard Garneau said the paper machine will be kept ready for future operation. Inventories that remain will be removed and either transported to other Resolute locations or disposed of in an environmentally responsible way.
In the meantime, the company said it is looking for alternative products for its Fort Frances operation, especially related to the pulp mill. The company said it won’t provide notice to salaried employees, stationary engineers, and certain maintenance employees, as well as woodlands employees.
CBC News reported that a national representative with Unifor, the union representing workers at the mill, said the mill has gone through a lot of turmoil in the past year. "I mean last February the kraft mill and one of the paper machines was shut down," Stephen Boon said. "So it's a continuation of the bad news for our members, for their families, and, obviously, for the community."
Resolute stated that it would work with affected employees, all levels of government, and other local authorities on programs to lessen the impact of the work shortage. The company said affected employees will be considered for job vacancies and opportunities at other company facilities.
Three other Resolute projects are underway in northwestern Ontario, including a new sawmill in Atikokan, the upgrade and restart of its idled Ignace sawmill, and the lumber production capacity increase and building of a wood pellet plant at its Thunder Bay sawmill.
The Fort Francis mill produces commercial printing papers and market pulp, with an annual capacity of 112,000 metric tons.
