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Unifor releases statement on extended Crofton Mill paper operations curtailment

Unifor responded to Paper Excellence’s announcement of extended paper operations curtailment at Crofton Mill with a press statement. The organization noted that the fourth consecutive curtailment at the Paper Excellence paper mill in Crofton will keep more than 100 workers laid off. It noted that this curtailment will lead the community to speculate regarding the $19 million in government funding the company received earlier this year.

“This is the opposite of getting results. Millions of public dollars were invested and workers are off the job 10 months later,” said Lana Payne, Unifor national president. “Workers and the community deserve answers from the company about why they are failing to meet established timelines. We also want answers from the provincial and federal government as to why we are saddled with curtailment after curtailment.”

Paper Excellence received nearly $19 million in January 2023 as part of an investment to enable the restart of its C2 paper machine and upgrade the efficiency of the mill’s boiler. This is the fourth time Paper Excellence has announced a shutdown extension since May 2023, when a 30-day curtailment was planned.

“We’ve seen no plan for forestry workers facing layoffs other than a one-way ticket out of the industry,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor western regional director. “That’s no way to treat the workers who have built our forestry industry and their communities deserve better answers from the government.”

Unifor Local 1132 represents 91 workers at the mill.