Western Pulp and Paper

 May 1967 Page 2 OCEAN FALLS by Peter Freund

Because of the lack of modernization in the mill Crown Zellerbach has informed residents that we just can't compete with other more up to date mills, and they have to shut down certain departments such as Kraft, Sulphite, with curtailment of others such as Sawmill, Boom etc.

This will result in layoffs, people displaced from jobs they have been doing for many years and a general upheaval of the whole town.

We feel we have the right to criticize the Company for their action in not bringing about a modernization of the Mill before. For years the war cry has been "speed up" for more and more production on machines old and inadequate.

Crown has used the people and the Mill up here to the utmost drawing profits and more profits from them; and now things are toughening up allover and they are using the axe. Automation has really come to Ocean Falls with vengence with a great effect on employees. The company should have been aware for a long time that changes in the Pulp and Paper Industry were inevitable, and plans for such changes should have been made in a more gradual manner.

Recently the Mill Manager gave a picture of the own in 1971 with a workforce of about 350/400 persons including staff from a past payroll of approximately 1,000. From a population of three and a half thousand they visulize about 1800 to 2000.

Those of our membership who own their own homes in Martin Valley are experiencing a low ebb in the real estate value of their property. People who have stayed up here when the turnover was great feel somehow lost, and all that ‘security' that Ocean Falls had to offer has gone.

To deal with the numerous problems arising from this shut down and curtailment a Joint Automation Committee was set up with representatives from local 312 and Local 360 of the Untied Paper Makers.

The first likely layoffs are scheduled for May 1, 1967 with at the moment 25 people involved. As of July 1, 1967 a probable 263 persons will be affected.

We know the life span of No. 4 and No. 5 paper machines is about four to five years. How will this affect our livelihood?

We hope that Crown Zellerbach will have sufficient faith in Ocean Falls to modernize this Mill to such an extent that we will be able to successfully compete with other more up to date mills, and revitalize our town.