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Northwestern Ontario forestry workers take a pounding this fall

October and November are proving to be tough months for forestry mills in northwestern Ontario. Terrace Bay Pulp is the latest casualty to announce temporarily layoffs with 425 workers expected to be off work by Nov. 9.
Northern Ontario Business Staff

October and November are proving to be tough months for forestry mills in northwestern Ontario.

Terrace Bay Pulp is the latest casualty to announce temporarily layoffs with 425 workers expected to be off work by Nov. 9. The mill was revived two years ago by Buchanan Forest Products.

The news comes on the heels of Abitibi-Bowater's decision to idle its Thunder Bay pulp and newsprint operation, and its 600 workers for two weeks because of reduced customer demand. The company is also reducing hours and operating days for 130 workers at a nearby sawmill.

Workers at Marathon Pulp, jointly owned by Tembec and Kruger, are being asked to take deep 12.5 per cent wage cuts to keep to the 200-person workforce employed.

Tembec is also curtailing pulp production at its mills in British Columbia and Quebec including its Temcell operation in Temiscaming where one shift will be dropped until Nov. 30.