CORNER BROOK, N.L. — Employees at Corner Brook Pulp and Paper will be getting some unexpected time off during the upcoming holiday period.
However, it won't be a paid vacation as the paper mill is set to shut down its operations for 14 days, starting Christmas Eve.
Around 365 workers — about 300 in the mill and another 65 in the forest operations — will be affected by the shutdown.
The company, which confirmed the news Friday evening, will resume newsprint production Jan. 6.
In an emailed statement, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper also announced that 22 of its workers will be reassigned to the casual pool, although the company said these workers will still get full-time employment.
The company said the two measures help the mill face difficult market conditions. and ensure its long-term competitiveness. The workforce reorganization is part of the plan to improve labour costs and achieve efficiencies throughout the organization.
The woodlands operations and Deer Lake Power are not affected by this internal restructuring plan.
While the production curtailment is temporary, the company said, depending on forthcoming newsprint market conditions it could eventually interrupt its production temporarily during the coming winter in order to restore balance in its order book.
