Thunder Bay Paper Plant Getting Back on Track
AbitibiBowater, one of the leading producers of newsprint and market pulp, groundwood papers, groundwood specialty papers, directory paper and lumber in the world today, will be restarting one of its paper machines in its plant in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Due to the recession and low demand from the market, AbitibiBowater was forced to shut down a few machines last year, laying-off over 300 workers as a result.
Even if this means that the company’s Thunder Bay plant is slowly getting back on its feet with the paper machine’s restart, AbitibiBowater executives were quick to point out that the plant needs to use a more cost-effective energy strategy. If things remain as they are, more paper machines are expected to only shutdown once more – and maybe this time, for good, they added.
Canada’s Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union were largely responsible for negotiating on behalf of the workers on issues like labor fees and the like. The company’s Thunder Bay facility was also able to amass savings of up to $15 million, brought about by more effective energy and water usage.
The paper machine will resume operations next month, and around 100 more workers are expected to return to work at the Thunder Bay plant.
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