Staff Writer
NASHVILLE PLANTATION – Workers displaced by Irving Forest Product’s decision over the summer to close the Pinkham sawmill will now be eligible for benefits through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins announced recently that the U.S. Department of Labor has certified Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for the workers at the Nashville Plantation mill. As a result of increased imports and competition from Canadian softwood lumber mills, the Aroostook County sawmill was forced to close its doors in early July, displacing 74 workers. In an effort to help, senators sent a letter to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao in July requesting TAA certification for the workers.
“These TAA benefits and services will undoubtedly help the workers of Pinkham sawmill regain their footing and find new employment,” Sens. Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. “In this harsh economic climate, this long-awaited TAA certification is long-awaited and necessary, especially for the mill’s older workers, as the community struggles to reclaim economic stability.”
The TAA is a program of the Department of Labor that helps workers who have lost their jobs as a result of increased imports or a shift of production outside of the United States. TAA provides these trade-affected workers with a variety of re-employment services and benefits to help them find new jobs and get back to work.
Local officials worked with the senators to ensure the workers received the assistance they need to get back on their feet.
“Torry Eaton (director of Career Center Employment Services) was very instrumental in doing what went on there. I was actually the co-chair of the committee, she was the chair,” said Ashland Town Manager Jim Gardner.
Gardner said all meetings were held in Ashland.
“It was a concerted effort. My hat’s off to Torry and the congressional people. They took it by the horns,” said Gardner. “It (the TAA) really couldn’t have come at a better time.”
Gardner said it was sad to know the area had lost another lumber producer but good to know people will be trained, at federal expense, to better enable them to find employment in the future.
“Any time there’s a major shutdown, your goal as a community – people and congressional leaders – is to keep people in the area. We have to stop out-migration,” he said.
A key point, for Gardner, is what will happen with the mill.
“Nothing has been mentioned as to what the future holds for the mill. Who knows what will be there. At least there’s the opportunity for them (workers) to adjust themselves – train for new jobs or enhance their skills – at federal expense. They’ll be able to go on to school or training programs. It’s a good thing,” said Gardner.
While it won’t be a monetary boost to workers’ pockets, Gardner said it will give those displaced a chance at a brighter future.
“If nothing else, it’s a nice morale booster. Workers weren’t just left behind. It will help individuals improve skills or learn new ones to better enable them to market themselves to prospective employers. It will enhance their ability to sell themselves,” said Gardner.
