By Shereen Siewert
Domtar Paper Mill in Rothschild will lay off about 60 employees due to the economic slowdown related to COVID-19, Regional Public Affairs Manager Craig Timm said late Monday.
Short-term demand for communications paper grades have been negatively affected by the pandemic as universities, schools and businesses have been ordered to close, Timm said.
In response, the mill will adjust shifts and operating capacity to balance supply with customer demand for about 12 weeks.
“We will base the decision to resume normal operations or extend the adjusted operating schedule and temporary layoffs on market conditions,” Timm said, in an email to Wausau Pilot & Review. “We will continue to monitor market conditions and communicate with mill leadership, employees and their representation as soon as we reach a decision. We are taking significant steps to care for our employees and their families during this time.”
With 28 locations worldwide, Domtar Corporation is the largest integrated producer of uncoated free-sheet paper in North America and the second largest in the world based on production capacity, and is also a manufacturer of papergrade pulp.
Domtar is one of the largest employers in Rothschild supporting more than 375 local jobs, with an estimated regional impact of more than $361 million.
Top photo: Courtesy of Domtar Corporation
