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Congressional delegation requests federal assistance for Verso Paper workers

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At a meeting held Friday in Jay,
At a meeting held last week in Jay, 66 community members gathered to offer support services for those mill workers who are facing layoffs. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Laflin)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The state’s congressional delegation has requested that the U.S. Department of Labor approve federal funding to assist the more than 300 Verso mill workers impacted by planned shutdown of two machines in the next quarter.

Sen. Susan Collins, Sen. Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin supported the filing of a petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance in a letter sent to DOL Secretary Thomas Perez on Sept. 9. In it, the delegation cites “[s]hrinking demand attributable to foreign competition” as being responsible for Verso Paper’s decision to scale back its annual production of coated paper.

On Aug. 20, Verso announced a 40 percent workforce reduction at its Androscoggin Mill in Jay when it shuts down the No. 1 pulp dryer and the No. 2 paper machine sometime in this year’s fourth quarter. That will impact approximately 300 of the 863 people employed by the mill.

“Given the rural location of the Jay mill and the closures in recent years of other paper mills in the region,” the delegation’s letter reads, “the laid-off workers face an enormous hurdle in identifying and securing alternative employment. Many may require retraining for other emerging occupations, making it crucial that these workers receive certification under the TAA program.”

Trade Adjustment Assistance is federal funding that can provide support, including training, job searching and worker assistance benefits, for employees that either lost their jobs or suffered a reduction in wages or hours due to foreign imports or competition.

Locally, state and regional agency representatives have formed a transition team to assist with employee needs. That effort is being organized by the United Way of the Tri-Valley Area, Maine Department of Labor, the Wilton CareerCenter and state Rep. Paul Gilbert of Jay.

Mill workers seeking information should stay in contact with the mill’s HR department and Tom Hagerstrom of MDOL. Lisa Laflin of the United Way said she can also help direct questions by contacting her at 778-5048 or emailing her at lisa@uwtva.org.

 

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5 Comments

  1. I was one of 40 employees laid off from a local retailer that went out of business in Farmington because of competition 13 years ago. I was full time and worked there 20 years. We received 9 months of unemployment and were then kicked to the curb. No help from state senators, no extension of benefits, no mainecare, no offers of retraining, no help exploring health care options, no educational opportunities, no rapid response team, and we certainly were not in the same income level these mill workers were at. They ought to be very thankful that they have the support and the resources being offered to them. Like the Otis workers who lost their jobs a few years back, they will get much more than the average displaced worker does.

  2. West Farmingtonite, you sound bitter. I think 9-months of unemployment is plenty, hopefully you found work afterwards. It’s so common of people in this area to secure a job, and expect this job to provide for them for the rest of their lives. Here’s an idea, continue your education, that way you are in a better position when something like this happens. I feel for anybody who loses their job, but people need to wake up and stop thinking everything is going to be handed to them. Most quality jobs now require education. I have a good job, but I’m not foolish, I am continuing my education, this way I’ll be better prepared if my company chooses they don’t need me anymore.

  3. I’m now working at the Verso Luke mill that is still running, but have no idea for how long. We have been running about 60-70 people short on manpower for months, with some people regularly working 65+ hours a week. I figured they were just waiting to shut it down, but now that I see Jay and Wycliffe being effected, I’m wondering if any of these folks will be offered the vacancies at Luke? Or is Luke about to shut down.

  4. Employees will be all set with buyouts,severence packages etc. what we should concentrate on is the folks it will effect in the surrounding area!

  5. There used to be four in our ‘congressional delegation’… I guess one is now busy in a custody fight for the Learjet…

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