Workers balk at bid for Pine Falls mill

Workers at Tembec's idlenewsprint mill in Pine Falls, Man., haverefused to supporta formeremployee's bid to buy the the mill.

J.P. Bradette, who was once a sales executive for the Montreal-based company, outlined his plan to purchase the mill during a meeting in Pine Falls on Jan. 14.

The mill has been idle since Sept. 1 when Tembec locked out about 250 workers. In December, the company announced it would sell the operation, or permanently close it if it couldn't find a buyer.

'If we can get all the parties together, I firmly believe we can be making paper by July 1.' J.P. Burdett

Monday is the deadline set by the company for taking offers. Bradette, who is based in Toronto, said he plans to submit a letter of intent to buy the business but was hoping the workers would be part of his ownership group.

"In addition to offering employees significant ownership in the new company, the plan that we've put forth would create roughly 180 well-paid unions jobs, about 20 staff positions, not to mention benefits to the community as a whole," he said.

"If we can get all the parties together, I firmly believe we can be making paper by July 1. I'm hopeful of that."

The workers, however, said Bradette's plan also calls for cutting production costs through wage cuts and layoffs. But the proposed cuts are too deep, said Cam Sokoloski, president of the United Steelworkers.

Bradetteis still hopeful he can convince the steelworkers to join him, promising to keep about 200 of the employees on the payroll.

Sokoloski said the union, though, is looking to make its own offer with support from nearby Sagkeeng First Nation.

The mill is about 130 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.