More trouble for NewPage

WHITING - Fifteen years of papermaking isn't making Tom Peplinski worry any less, it's only fueling a fire of doubts as economic uncertainty threatens his industry.

"We should be making all kinds of orders, sending people away and picking our orders and just running full and we're not," Peplinski said.  "At this time of year, it's very worrisome."

Citing significant losses, NewPage plans to reduce production by 40,000 tons across all mills. That's in addition to the previous closures of mills in Kimberly and Niagra.

"We remain committed to balance our production consumption," NewPage president Rick Willett said.  "Based on weak market demand, this curtailment is required to achieve this balance."

NewPage isn't offering specific information on where the reductions will take place, but employees say the mill in Whiting and another in Biron will be among them.

Peplinski, president of the Whiting mill's employees' union, says most of the Whiting mill's 350 to 400 employees feel in a tight spot. He says they've kept ears and eyes on Kimberly.

"That was a huge wake-up call, to see that mill get shut down because I don't know what else would be left besides our mill," Peplinski said.

He feels the downtime, which will begin in November, is due in part to unfair trade agreements. However, as bad as the situation appears, Peplinski says it does offer hope for him and his coworkers.

"They're saying okay at least we can take a deep breath and hope we can make it at least two or three years, see what happens with these trade deals, see what happens in the market," he said.

So, with an uncertain future, Whiting workers are looking forward, hoping they won't be the next closed.