In a letter to Peter Gordon, President & CEO of Fraser Paper Incorporated, U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins and Representative Mike Michaud today expressed support for mill employees in Madawaska. In addition, they urged the company pursue cross-training and additional on-site training opportunities for its employees.
Last month, Fraser Paper announced that it would eliminate more than 100 positions at its Madawaska mill. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor approved Senators Snowe, Collins, and Representative Michaud’s request for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to aid workers who will lose their jobs.
Following is the full text of the letter.
Mr. Peter Gordon
President & CEO
Fraser Paper Inc.
BCE Place, 181 Bay Street, Suite 200
P.O. Box 762
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2T3
Dear Mr. Gordon:
We are writing in support of the hard-working and dedicated workers of Fraser Papers Mill in Madawaska. We are troubled to learn that Fraser Papers has decided to cut the workforce at the plant in Madawaska, Maine, but recognize that the company has been able to mitigate the hardship on some families affected by the layoff by negotiating an early retirement package and submitting a Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) application that will assist laid-off workers in receiving benefits and training to secure new employment. We are pleased that the TAA application has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Fraser Papers paper mill in Madawaska is a vital and significant part of Northern Maine’s economy. The plant has had a long history of providing a secure livelihood for many families in the St. John Valley. Economic indications are that for every job held by the remaining 680 employees, eight other employees in northern Maine provide support directly to the mill or indirectly to the workers themself. The trickle down effect of any lay-off at Fraser Papers Madawaska Mill is devastating to the entire area.
Already, we are hearing of laid-off workers leaving the Madawaska area to seek employment in southern Maine or in another state. The loss in paper-making experience and knowledge adversely affects the continuation of this vital industry. The remaining employees indicate to us that additional on-site training and cross-training would be invaluable for the continued operation and financial success of the mill. Indeed, they indicate that cross-training is a vital aspect of Fraser’s ability to compete in the world marketplace. We will be investigating possible federal assistance for training for the remaining employees. We also want to know whether Fraser Papers has any plans to provide the additional training that employees and their union representatives are requesting to help qualify current workers for opportunities at the mill.
We commend Fraser Papers for its history of working cooperatively with its employees to provide employee benefits, a safe work environment, and continued operation to manufacture a high quality product. We are proud of Maine’s excellent workforce and the quality of life your facilities guarantee them, their families, and approximately 5400 other area workers that benefit from the Madawaska Fraser paper mill. We look forward to and want to help ensure Fraser Papers’ continued success, and ask that you provide assurances to your employees, the communities of Northern Maine, and to us of your continued commitment to the Madawaska mill.
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