Wednesday, May 6, 2020 2:15 pm
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WEST MONROE, La. (From news reports) -- Graphic Packaging International has notified state officials that its permanently shutting down operation of one of its paper machines in West Monroe.
The notification was made in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act filing sent to the Louisiana Workforce Commission and dated April 28, 2020.
The letter states that they anticipate that Paper Machine #1 will cease operation on June 30, 2020.
Approximately 56 employees will be subjected to permanent layoff, the letter states. Layoffs will occur during the 14-day period beginning on June 13 and ending June 30, 2020.
The letter states that the employees' union has been notified. Non-union employees affected by this decision will be notified individually, the letter states.
Both salaried and hourly workers will be affected. Among the positions facing layoffs are machine supervisors, engineers, operators, and mechanics.
The City of West Monroe has released the following statement:
"Graphic Packaging is very important not only to the City of West Monroe but our entire community. The company is one of our largest employers and contributors to the economy. We are disappointed to hear about the discontinued operations of paper machine #1, but we are very happy to know that the West Monroe Mill is very strong and continues to see investment in paper machines #6 and #7 which produce beverage cartons and food packaging products. Graphic Packaging is trying to retain as many of its employees as they can within the company. The West Monroe West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce has offered its services to assist employees with finding new employment." - Staci Albritton Mitchell, City of West Monroe Mayor.
The notification was made in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act filing sent to the Louisiana Workforce Commission and dated April 28, 2020.
The letter states that they anticipate that Paper Machine #1 will cease operation on June 30, 2020.
Approximately 56 employees will be subjected to permanent layoff, the letter states. Layoffs will occur during the 14-day period beginning on June 13 and ending June 30, 2020.
The letter states that the employees' union has been notified. Non-union employees affected by this decision will be notified individually, the letter states.
Both salaried and hourly workers will be affected. Among the positions facing layoffs are machine supervisors, engineers, operators, and mechanics.
The City of West Monroe has released the following statement:
"Graphic Packaging is very important not only to the City of West Monroe but our entire community. The company is one of our largest employers and contributors to the economy. We are disappointed to hear about the discontinued operations of paper machine #1, but we are very happy to know that the West Monroe Mill is very strong and continues to see investment in paper machines #6 and #7 which produce beverage cartons and food packaging products. Graphic Packaging is trying to retain as many of its employees as they can within the company. The West Monroe West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce has offered its services to assist employees with finding new employment." - Staci Albritton Mitchell, City of West Monroe Mayor.