Clearwater Paper plans to permanently eliminate as many as 100 union jobs this spring from its staff of 1,400 in Lewiston.
Company spokesperson Shannon Myers says some of the cuts – between 80 and 100 positions – will be through attrition or by not filling open slots.
The downsizing is tentatively scheduled to begin in May and will involve tissue division staff.
Union leaders met with the company to negotiate a new contract and were notified about the reductions, which are occurring because of “lower budgeted production levels in tissue converting in the future.” The company is seeking ways to tighten its belt as it faces numerous challenges. Its net earnings totaled $16.4 million in the first nine months of 2017, compared with $40.2 million for the same time the year before.
Lewiston is the only location Clearwater Paper has plans to downsize now, but the company hasn’t ruled out other cost-saving measures in the future.
(Lewiston Tribune)
