Bowater shuts down for fourth time

This does not include spares, who are called in as needed. These dates are subject to change according to the orders. This represents the fourth shut-down since late last Dec. The announcement was made Aug. 13.

Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada Local 141 President Courtney Wentzell said, “I think if you add up the weeks we’re down more than we run. We’re seasonal workers now. When there’s work there, you take it and it’s still a skeletal workforce, that’s for sure.”

The company is citing market conditions for newsprint as the cause. Wentzell noted that once again “management will be working. It’s not about saving money; it’s about taking paper off the market. There are just not enough orders out there.”

He added employees are worried about a permanent shut-down, like employees are across the country and globe. “You’ve got to think about that. How much are they going to take off the market?”

He also pointed out AbitibiBowater lost $510-million in the last quarter, which can’t last forever. “How are you going to pay your bills when you’re losing that kind of money?”

Currently, they’ve been directed by the national union to “stand down” over contract talks until a meeting between executives from the union and company is held at the end of this month. The union expects at least four mills will be closed. The company hasn’t confirmed this. Thunder Bay is already losing about 360 employees because of an earlier-announced newsprint shut-down.

Wentzell said he doesn’t enjoy saying this, but Thunder Bay’s misery probably reduced the length of Bowater’s downtime. “It could have been longer.”

He added no one was surprised by today’s announcement. “It’s the same old (crap) and we were waiting for it anyways.”

Wentzell said it appears they, the workers will have enough hours to open up new Employment Insurance claims when the current claims run out. It might affect the amount of the benefits, however.