Unifor requests meeting with Kruger Inc. over Corner Brook mill future

Unifor has formally approached Kruger Inc. seeking detailed information about the future direction of the Corner Brook pulp and paper mill in Newfoundland and Labrador. In a letter addressed to the company’s leadership, Unifor National President Lana Payne requested an urgent meeting to clarify the company’s intentions for the site and its workforce.

The union represents workers at Kruger-owned Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. through Unifor Locals 64, 242, 96, 57N and 60N, while employees at Deer Lake Power are members of Unifor Local 495. The Corner Brook operation marked its 100th anniversary last September, highlighting its longstanding role in the regional economy and community.

Unifor, which counts more than 320,000 members across Canada and approximately 24,000 members in forestry-related sectors, has emphasized its ongoing efforts to promote a sustainable and competitive future for Canada’s forest industry. The union represents workers in forestry, logging, firefighting, wood products, bioenergy and pulp and paper manufacturing facilities across 10 provinces.

In her correspondence, Payne outlined concerns regarding the absence of clear communication about the mill’s long-term outlook and the implications for the roughly 300 employees working at the site. She posed a series of questions aimed at clarifying Kruger’s strategic direction, including:

• What is the company’s long-term business plan for the Corner Brook operation?
• Are there plans to permanently shut down specific operations or product lines, and if so, how many jobs would be affected?
• Does the company intend to introduce new products, services or operational activities at the facility?
• Will the mill remain focused primarily on forestry-based production, or is a shift toward energy generation envisioned?
• What measures are planned to support workers and the surrounding community during any potential transition?

Payne also noted her role as the sole labour representative on the Federal Forestry Sector Transformation Task Force, established by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson, with a mandate to strengthen the sector’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability.

Unifor has called for transparent engagement between Kruger, the union, the local community and the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The union reiterated its request for an urgent meeting to address the concerns raised and to discuss the future of the Corner Brook facility.