Verso mill to idle for 2 weeks
2/26/09 | 14 comments

Verso mill to idle for 2 weeks


By Bill Trotter
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KATE COLLINS
Workers leave the Verso Paper mill in Bucksport Thursday afternoon, Feb. 26, 2009. Due to a low volume of orders, Verso will be idling production from Monday, March 9 until Monday, March 23. Most of the mill's 756 workers will be laid off during that time.

BUCKSPORT, Maine — The local Verso Paper mill will be idling most of its workers for two weeks in March as part of the company's continuing efforts to match production with orders, according to a mill spokesman.

Bill Cohen of Verso Paper said Thursday that the machines at the mill will be shut down from Monday, March 9 until Monday, March 23. He said that most of the mill's 756 workers are expected to be temporarily laid off but that some will continue working to keep the mill warm and ready to restart.

"This is not a mill closure," Cohen said. "It is just temporary downtime."

The curtailment is consistent with Verso's announcement at the end of last year that it planned to cut back on production to match the orders it receives, according to Cohen. He said he did not yet know how many workers will be idled by the downtime.

"It is hard to give a number," he said, "[but] it will be most of the mill."

Verso, which primarily makes paper for catalogs and magazines, also owns and operates the Androscoggin Mill in Jay as well as mills in Qunnesec, Mich., and Sartell, Minn.

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Comments
14 comments on this item
On 2/26/09 at 2:53 PM, bigfootinheels wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

another millinocket...............what a shame.

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On 2/26/09 at 4:17 PM, Knightscross wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Paper is a dead industry. German Chemical Giant Wacker is building a 1 Billion dollar plant in Cleveland Tn to produce solar cells. Over 600 workers are to be hired for these green jobs. Not to mention the hundreds of construction workers to build the plant. Where was Baldy trying to get this massive high tech plant to locate in Maine and bring high tech green jobs?

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On 2/26/09 at 4:48 PM, Tikitorch wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"This is not a mill closure," Cohen said. "It is just temporary downtime.".......................... Hell it has been partially down since November!!! So now they are shutting down totally for a bit... what happened to the new food paper they were making that was supposed to Bail them out? I feel bad for these working people.... granted they get unemployment benefits.. but those only kick in AFTER 2 weeks, so every time the mill does this it is 2 weeks unpaid for these people workers... If they would just shut down for 4-6 weeks then it may be easier on the workforce!

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On 2/26/09 at 5:01 PM, Anon_One wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hope things getter for these workers. Hang in there guys. I have been in the paper industry for years and am confident things will bounce back. The problem isn't only paper its global. Going to be a rough year for everybody. Best of luck Verso...

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On 2/26/09 at 9:20 PM, Lobstarok wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

thank yer local union

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On 2/26/09 at 9:39 PM, mackdaddy1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's too bad, This used to be a good quality papermill and in a very short time we as a whole have tanked. The management at the mill refuses to be accountable for their own decisions or lack thereof. They only want to point fingers at the hourly people for things that they should have been in control of in the first place. Thats why they are the boss. Everyone will soon be equal when we're all in the soup line together. thanks mike its been a good ride.

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On 2/27/09 at 3:37 AM, harryharly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

the promblem is the bosses that come from the oldtowm mill have no clue. thay do know how to run a mill into the ground.after bucksport thay will go ruin annother mill

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On 2/27/09 at 10:39 AM, Kate123 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

You got GP throw backs and thought it was wonderful...... Even though I would like to blame them its the economy. Bush killed it and until it gets turned around every business will be affected some how. Look at Shaws. When do you see grocery stores go under?

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On 2/27/09 at 2:39 PM, sassyfrazz wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Thank yer computer screen, yer blackberry, yer laptop for students, yer digital camera, yer tree lovers, yer direct mail killers, yer online payment sources, yer "recycle paper until it turns into something that ink won't write on," yer plastic instead of paper shopping bags, yer electronic medical records, yer electronic bank statements, and on, and on, and on, and on. Tried to use a napkin lately? - two chemicals short of iron, and perfectly useless as well.

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On 2/28/09 at 11:25 AM, RockyRoad wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The poor workers. The majority own several snowmobiles, perhaps a jet ski ot two, maybe a camp, a lifestyle unlike the majority of the workforce in Maine with only a high school degree, and many have garages filled with tools borrowed from the mill over the years and the gravy train in coming to an end.

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On 3/1/09 at 1:09 PM, harryharly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

sounds like rocky is a little jelous,Maybe his wellfare check is late

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On 3/1/09 at 1:09 PM, harryharly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

sounds like rocky is a little jelous,Maybe his wellfare check is late

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On 3/1/09 at 4:21 PM, RockyRoad wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

No. Rocky is fine for he is retired from the Military and between that and Social Security I'm fine but conservative.

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On 3/1/09 at 7:25 PM, BALDYDEM wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Harry Harley your 100% right, welcome to St John valley & Seekins Villa

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