The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP), Canada’s largest union of forestry workers, is “outraged” that Norampac Cascades was not sincere from the outset about its plans to close its Toronto boxboard mill, says Bob Huget, Ontario regional vice president. The mill will close no later than Sept. 14.

“It’s bad enough that dedicated and long-time employees are thrown out of work, but for the company to turn around and blame the union for not accepting concessions is irresponsible,” he states. He adds that Norampac was intimidating and trying to scare the membership into accepting concessions without any intention of arriving at a viable solution.

“I think Norampac had another agenda all along and that it had no intention of keeping this facility running,” Huget says. “It demanded huge concessions, knowing it would be rejected by the membership, especially when company President Marc André Dépin stated emphatically that the concessions would not guarantee one single job. Now it is turning around and blaming the union for the closure.” About 114 members of CEP Locals 1112 and 333-05 will be affected by the closure.