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Rob Kailey is a working schmuck with no ties or affiliations to any governmental or political organizations, save those of sympathy.
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Tue Dec 15, 2009 at 10:39:07 AM MST
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In another reminder that the economic turmoils (either the painful short-term recession or the long-term remaking of the Western economy), Smurfit-Stone is shutting its Frenchtown plant. This is a huge blow to the area economically, where the mill provided damn good pay by our standards:In specific terms, the plant closure means the loss of 417 high-paying jobs, with an average annual salary of $70,000.
"Those jobs represent about 4 percent of the Missoula's economy," Barkey said. "In terms of what it represents for the economy - that's about a $45 million loss annually. Through ripple effects, one economist thinks we may see as many as another 1,000 jobs lost in the region.The only bright spot in the dark day was the fact that employees will receive benefits under the Trade Assistance Act - but only because those federal benefits were approved within the past year during the plant's last round of layoffs.
As the day wore on, as Houseman went from one management meeting to the next, taking short breaks to explain the news and its repercussions to his fellow union members and coworkers, his exhaustion and heavy heart could be heard in his voice.
Weary, he talked about upcoming meetings with Smurfit representatives to discuss severance packages and about the many union meetings to come.
His voiced cracked, and Houseman paused for a moment to say quietly: "This is not a very good day." |
| Matt Singer :: Smurfit-Stone Closing; Big Hit to Missoula Economy |
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