ESPANOLA, Ont. (From news reports) -- Approximately 150 workers who were laid off at the Espanola pulp mill are back at work, as production at the facility recommenced Friday night, the union confirmed.

Unifor Local 74 President Joanne Lamothe confirmed the workers were back on the job.

The mill, owned and operated by Domtar, had begun laying off workers at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday night in response to a shortage of trained staff.

"Domtar's Espanola mill recently experienced some absences in key positions which has resulted in the need to currently cease the pulp mill operations," said Domtar spokesperson Jan Martin in a statement to media. "The paper section of the mill is operating normally at this time."

Also in a news release, Unifor said the shutdown was necessary because a lack shortage of trained and qualified operators made it impossible to perform many operations safely.

"This temporary shutdown was a manpower issue, which has been resolved," Lamothe said.

Earlier, the union had said the issue was one of hiring and training. Neither side explained how the issue has been resolved so quickly.

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