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2462 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Tel: 202-225-2476
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Press Releases

For Immediate Release:
August 27, 2008
 

Assistance for NewPage Workers Okayed, Petri Says

 

Congressmen Tom Petri reports that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for the employees affected by the upcoming shutdown of the NewPage Corporation's Kimberly Mill.  On Aug. 6, Petri and Rep. Steve Kagen wrote to the Department in support of the aid.

"TAA benefits are designed for workers who lose their jobs because of imports.  The aid includes extended unemployment benefits, help with health care insurance, substantial job training and other education support," said Petri.  "The Kimberly Mill has highly-skilled workers who turn out a first-class product.  If they can't continue to do the same jobs, they deserve our help in getting their careers back on track."

Petri noted that efforts are continuing to encourage the NewPage Corporation to sell the mill in order to keep it running.  He supports those efforts and is working to bring the message to corporate executives.  In the meantime, the TAA benefits will assist those workers ready to move into another career. 

Workers can access these benefits by visiting their local one-stop career center.  The easiest way to locate the closest center is by going to www.servicelocator.org and entering their zip code.

On January 16, 2008, the NewPage Corporation announced the closing of one of the Kimberly Mill's three paper machines, resulting in the loss of 96 jobs.  On July 30, the employees and the community were hit with a second announcement from NewPage, this time notifying them of the complete closure of the mill and the elimination of approximately 470 papermaking jobs.  NewPage also closed its mill in Niagara, WI on July 12 putting 319 people out of work.

In citing the need to close the paper mill in Kimberly, NewPage Corporation noted the increase in imports similar to those manufactured at the facility.  Most recently, the Kimberly Mill has produced coated wood free printing paper, a product line which has seen a surge of non-Canadian imports into the United States market.  According to the Pulp and Paper Products Council, these imports grew from 650,000 tons in 2000 to 1,200,000 tons in 2007.  During this same interval, domestic demand has been flat.  "Clearly, the closing of the Kimberly Mill has taken place in an atmosphere of rising imports," the congressmen said in their letter.