i was gobsmacked that these mill workers weren't organised. i know that at least a couple of the weyco mills are union, and i have always assumed that the timber/logging/mill industry here was pretty well organised, but almost all of my experience comes from interaction in northern california. this is outrageous, forcing a guy to apply for his own job after 40 years? nosmokes
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original

Georgia-Pacific plans mill sale

By Diane Dietz
The Register-Guard
Published: Tuesday, December 6, 2005


About 275 workers will have to reapply for their jobs beginning Wednesday as part of Georgia-Pacific's pending sale of its west Eugene hardwood mill to Sutherlin-based Murphy Plywood, purchaser John Murphy said Monday.
The sale will not be completed until later this month, but Murphy is already interviewing workers in anticipation of starting up under the new ownership shortly after New Year's Day, he said.
"It's an aggressive time frame. But that's the way they (Georgia-Pacific officials) have structured it," said Murphy, owner of the privately held firm that bears his name.
Officials at Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific confirmed Monday that they have entered a deal to sell - after Murphy expressed a strong desire to buy - the plant. The plant produces hardwood plywood. Georgia-Pacific has owned it for 43 years.
Long-term employees, who learned about the potential sale two weeks ago, are facing the change with trepidation. They're now forced to compete for their long-held jobs in a process that Murphy calls "open application."
"Merry Christmas, huh?" said 60-year-old Hugh Hamilton, a 40-year employee and dryer operator at the plant.
Much is unclear about the pending deal and its impact on workers.
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complete article here