75 workers at OJI Fibre Solution’s Penrose Pulp Mill in Auckland learnt this morning that the mill is likely to close by mid-December. Union representatives are calling on the Government to urgently step in and save the mill by reducing wholesale energy costs in any way possible. “This has come like a bolt out of the blue for workers and was completely unexpected,” said Justin Wallace, organiser for FIRST Union, which represents production workers on site. “They are gutted that the company has now told them that, pending consultation, the site will close,” said Mr Gallagher. “The workers and unions will spend the next month working on a proposal to challenge the intention to close,” said Justin Wallace.

Source: Stuff August 07, 2024 12:03 UTC