SENATORS SNOWE & COLLINS WORK TO ASSIST DOMTAR WORKERS

Washington, DC – Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins today announced that a local task force, which they helped to organize in the Baileyville area, will provide assistance to Domtar workers who are expected to lose their jobs this year. Domtar Industries announced yesterday that 50 positions in its Woodland Mill in Baileyville will be eliminated by the end of the year The task force will help dislocated workers access available programs for job retraining, education, job search and relocation, and re-employment services.

"These layoffs can be devastating for the workers and their families. Our offices stand ready to assist them in any way possible, to make it through the uncertainty and help them find other options for employment," said the Senators in a joint statement. "The loss of jobs at Domtar deals another personal and economic blow to the mill community in Washington County. It is important that we can work through the task force to team the resources of federal, state, and local agencies and organizations to support the dislocated workers and their families."

According to company executives, the layoffs are part of a system wide restructuring that will affect about 800 workers among its U.S. and Canadian mills. Domtar says some of the Maine workers affected will be laid off through retirements, attrition, and eliminating positions that are currently vacant. The company cites a decline on market pulp prices and the weakening U.S. dollar as the major factors leading to its decision.

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