Staff Writer
NASHVILLE PLANTATION – Nearly four months after closing its mill in western Aroostook County, Irving Woodlands LLC has announced 45 workers will be going back to work on June 3 as the sawmill reopens. The company cited a drop in demand for wood products as the reason for the closure. The Pinkham Sawmill had been closed since February due to depressed market demand and prices as a result of the slump in housing construction.
“We appreciate the support of our unions in reopening the plant. Working together with our employees and the state, over the past few months we have found a way forward to restart the mill,” said Anthony Hourihan, regional manager of Irving Woodlands LLC and Irving Forest Products.
Hourihan credited three key changes that enabled the mill to resume production.
“A partnership with our union,” was one element, according to Hourihan. “The leadership of Governor John E. Baldacci and local legislators in making our woodlands more competitive through an improved regulatory environment,” was another factor.
Stronger demand for the product was the third element that led to the company’s decision to reopen.
“An increase in demand for the quality of lumber produced at Pinkham, even though prices are still down about 25 percent from 2006 levels and fuel prices have risen dramatically,” was the third and final factor in getting the business back online, said Hourihan.
Although the mill is in Nashville Plantation, Ashland’s town manager, Jim Gardner, sees the opening as a positive thing for his community.
“It’s very, very good news. It’s great. The reason is any time you have skilled workers like that and have big layoffs, there’s a chance of losing those people,” since the individuals may have to look elsewhere for work to support their families, said Gardner.
Gardner said the June 3 restart was just the beginning.
“June 3 is the initial restart, with more work coming online in three to four weeks,” putting up to 25 more employees back to work, Gardner continued.
Gardner said the reopening couldn’t have come at a better time.
“My hat’s off to Irving. With a new school coming on line, it’s important to stabilize jobs and keep workers here. The transition team worked with the employees,” said Gardner.
And though the jobs may be in another community, many of the employees call Ashland home, according to the town manager. Most send children to the school district.
“The mill may be in Nashville but many (workers) are residents of Ashland,” he said.
Gardner said the reopening was good news to an area highly dependent on its natural resources.
“It’s a very good thing. I’m glad to see Irving staying in the lumber industry in our area. We’re a woods community and rely heavily on lumber products,” said Gardner.
Congressman Mike Michaud was one of the officials who’d sought assistance for workers. He was pleased with Irving’s announcement.
“I want to congratulate all parties for their diligent effort to get workers back on the job at the Pinkham mill. This is tremendous news for a region that has been so hard hit in recent months,” said Michaud.
Michaud saw the reopening as a “victory” for Aroostook County.
“With this announcement, we can celebrate a victory for the economy of northern Maine. I look forward to continuing to work with labor and the management of Pinkham to help return fiscal health to the company and prosperity to the area,” said Michaud.
Hourihan said Irving sees a “strong future” at the facility.
“We are committed to a strong future at the mill,” Hourihan said. “The workers and the governor have given their vote of confidence by helping create the right environment for mill operations to resume.”
While Irving workers will be returning to their jobs soon, employees of Fraser Timber Limited, located in Ashland, have yet to hear news on if or when their mill will reopen. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe announced May 14 that the Labor Department had approved Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to Ashland mill workers, reversing its earlier decision to deny the workers assistance as the result of additional information provided by the company advising the shutdown was due in large part to Canadian lumber entering the market.
“We are pleased that the Department of Labor has reversed its decision to deny assistance to the workers of Fraser Timber Limited,” Sens. Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. “Through no fault of their own, these hard workers lost their jobs and we should make use of every resource available to help them get back on their feet, reclaim gainful employment and continue their contributions to their local and national economies.”
