NewPage Shutting Down Paper Machine, Laying Off Workers

NewPage said Tuesday it would shut down a paper machine "indefinitely" at the local mill (in Rumford, ME) in mid-February because of tough economic conditions.

About 120 workers would be laid off, Local 900 President Ron Hemingway said. The mill employs 830 people. Mill spokesman Anthony Lyons said the employees were informed Tuesday morning of the shutdown of the mill's No. 12 paper machine.

He said the company needs until mid-February to fill its ongoing customer orders, "and so we can transition the grades from the No. 12 paper machine to other machines at different NewPage machines at the Rumford paper mill