The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland
and Labrador, today announced the Provincial Government will provide
financial benefits for workers displaced by the closure of the
AbitibiBowater Mill in Central Newfoundland. Benefits to be provided
will include severance for mill workers (unionized and non-unionized),
silviculturists and loggers, and certain entitlements under the Work
Force Reduction Program and Early Retirement Allowance program.
Joining Premier Williams at today�s announcement were
the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources; the
Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation Trade and Rural
Development; the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources,
Labour and Employment; along with Ray Hunter, MHA for Grand
Falls-Windsor-Sprindale-Green Bay, and Clayton Forsey, MHA for Exploits.
"As a government, we have been determined to ensure
that workers impacted by the closure of this mill are protected to the
greatest extent possible," said Premier Williams. "Many of these
individuals have given a lifetime of service to AbitibiBowater and
deserve to be treated with dignity and respect in the face of this
closure. Unfortunately, that has not been the case to-date by the
company. Working in the best interests of the people of the province, in
December of last year our government repatriated certain assets related
to this mill as a result of the company having broken their contract to
operate in this province. It is now only appropriate and fair that the
workers are not left behind and disadvantaged by Abitibi�s decision to
close this operation."
"Given the unique circumstances of government having
expropriated related assets, it is now proper and right that workers
receive benefits from this repatriation particularly in the face of the
company�s inaction," added Premier Williams. "So beginning today, we
will enter into discussions with union representatives to facilitate the
allocation of severances and other financial allowances to the former
mill workers and we will determine an appropriate and fair severance for
loggers and silviculturists. This is the right thing to do, and our
government is proud to support these workers who have given their lives
to supporting an important industry in this province."
The Provincial Government will work with the
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers� (CEP) union and the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to ensure funds
are dispersed as quickly as possible. To that end, the province will
provide support to the unions enabling them to make payment to workers
for severance and allowances suspended as a result of AbitibiBowater�s
creditor protection. Upon conclusion of AbitibiBowater�s court
proceedings, any disbursement of payments to the union will be repaid to
the Provincial Government.
"AbitibiBowater�s financial position has left many
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians feeling particularly vulnerable," said
Minister Skinner who is the Chair of the Ministerial Task Force
established to respond to the mill�s closure. "It also created a unique
situation and one that required a unique solution. The Provincial
Government�s support to the workers reflects our commitment to the
Central Region and is a key step in its revitalization. Our task force
has done a tremendous amount of work to-date in collaboration with the
impacted communities. We will continue in this spirit of cooperation, as
we work to see the revitalization of the Central Region."
