Mills leaked memo verifies reports of cuts

A leaked memo outlines Corner Brook Pulp and Paper's reason for needing to reduce its workforce.

The goal to ensure long-term viability of the mill, and the company's plan to start implementing a workforce rationalization plan.

The memo was accidentally sent to media following the mill's meeting with union officials Tuesday.

At the meeting, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper said will get back to its employees in the coming months with details of what the unions have been told are a "manning reorganization and rationalization" of the workforce in the first quarter of 2012.

Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union national representaive Gary Healey told the media after today's morning meeting at the mill with officials from parent company Kruger that the mill is still working out the details of this plan and will meet with the unions in the first quarter.

No details of how many jobs will be affected were made available to the union, said Healey.

Initial reports had as many as 90 jobs affected, but that news changed in the past day.

Healey said the unions are happy those numbers did not materialize Tuesday.

The full text of the memo is available on the second page of this article.

Mike Pearson: - January 25, 2012 at 22:59:06

Come on man, give me a break. This is not a leaked memo. This is a memo that was meant to be leaked by Kruger to get the info out. It is an electronic copy. No employee would risk sending this to an external party with all the IT security in place now. The memo is not signed by a Kruger official. They always are. Calling it CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY – DO NOT RELEASE is only used to make it seem more juicy and real. Making reference to $/tonne of labor cost and comparing that to the industry is meant to show how badly the labor cost is Corner Brook and gain public and government sentiment towards the company. This is all part of a master plan by Kruger to reduce the workforce and communicate that to soften folks up. Mike

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Ed. A.: - January 25, 2012 at 18:45:02

remember when the the government offered the stephenville mill twenty five million dollars?. well mr. kruger still remembers and intends to collect what abitibi turned down.

JAMES: - January 25, 2012 at 02:01:39

can't wait to hear from those die-heart liberal mp's like byrne and simms. ITS HARPERS FAULT ! the time as come folks for this mill, these cuts are only the beginnining of whats to come. the paper industry in my home province cant survive in this computer age, and thats the bottom line.

Rosetta: - January 24, 2012 at 22:55:36

The Mill is facing the same fate as the unfortunate Titanic! The mill is sinking, it is just slowly happening. It must be a terrible feeling to wonder everyday if today is the day you will be told you no longer have a job. Job or not people still have mortgages, car loans, children to send to college......Good luck to all those who could be affected. We all know who will benefit the most regardless of what happens to the mill and that's the people on the top of the chain, they will make it to the raft just fine!

off da rock: - January 24, 2012 at 22:53:54

too bad that it has come to this, stephenville survived, corner brook can also, get your head out of the sand boys, the end is coming for the current level of employment. if you have marketable skills, take the inevitable packages that will come for sure , good luck in fort mac

Anita Brake: - January 24, 2012 at 22:37:36

Let's face it, memo was a "soft" delivery of the facts and reality of the mill's dire situation. Joe Kruger is a wealthy man, but not a stupid man... when Dunderdale and Marshall close the teller window the mill will close. Period. C'mon Greeley and Council, face the facts and launch a post-Kruger economic development strategy now!

Fort Mac NL'er: - January 24, 2012 at 20:36:37

Get out now while you can mill workers, so you are not searching for work with another 135 people looking for the same job. Won't be long before all the good ones are gone!

Blueberrysushi: - January 24, 2012 at 20:17:06

At this point, arguments about how many employees will be let go and when this will happen are silly and short term. We all know that the mill is facing inevitable decline and closure. What we need to be talking about is how to keep Corner Brook vibrant and alive, where investments should be made, what businesses might want to relocate or build here. Infrastructure, vision, strategy: these are the words that should be on our lips. We are without a plan, but we do have options.

Foghorn Leghorn: - January 24, 2012 at 16:22:58

I don't know if - soften - is the right word I use for this memo. If you take it at face value they are looking to possibly eliminate as high as 135 employees to equal mills elsewhere. If I was a mill employee I would be bracing myself for the inevitable. Another ploy to possibly squeeze a few more bucks out of the Provincial Government coffers to boot. We will see how that one plays out for sure!

-1°C

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Mill's leaked memo verifies reports of cuts

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