Mill workers, union reps praise Kruger project on day of action

More than 60 mill workers, union reps and retirees marched and cheered to show their support for Unifor's Forestry National Day of Action. While the newsprint industry is dwindling, this group remained extremely positive about the mill's future. Right here in Corner Brook, we're showing what happens when workers, unions, government and industry come together to protect Canadian jobs, invest in our communities, and build a future at home. This mill is more than a building or a place of production. It's part of the fabric of our community. Steve Newman says he's happy to work at the mill and not have to travel out of province for work. Kruger, the private company that owns the mill, is responsible for Project Tuckamore, their $700 million diversification plan that promises more jobs and lasting work at the mill. Right now, there is only one paper-making machine in operation here. Enel Hydro has also extended its deal to purchase around 280,000 megawatts of power at 18 cents per kilowatt hour from the Kruger-owned plant in Deer Lake. It's essential. In order for this to work, we have to be united, and we are. Darren Pelley says he has the forestry sector backing his big project. Everyone here today donned in Project Tuckamore hats and sweaters. A project that will continue to make some paper, but will no longer use logs, but wood chips instead. While improving sawmill operations and installing a wind farm near Grand Lake that will power the mill and beyond. So I would like to say let's stand together. Our workers are tremendous skills. We're great paper makers. We're tremendous energy producers. We are tremendous forestry workers and harvesters. We're going to take those advantages. We're going to take our natural skills and we're going to change. We're going to make it more resilient, more innovative, and we'll be around and in production for years to come. President of the Local 96 has worked here for decades and been through several layoffs. What you don't know is that after long discussions, one of the first things put on the table to us was that nobody working today in this mill or in our forestry sector will lose their job. What a relief. After years, 24 years, every day going to work, wondering am I going to have a job next week if there's a downturn. I was now told I will have retirement. Every person, man and woman in that plant will have a retirement and there's more jobs to come for everybody. While the future of some paper mills across Canada may be bleak, confidence and certainty is pouring out of this mill behind me here today. Now besides the power purchase agreement, Kruger still owes the province over $100 million from a loan they were given over a decade ago. Now they're saying that this investment, Project Tuckamore, will be able to pay back any and all money owed. Colleen Connors, CBC News, Corner Brook.