RUMFORD, Maine — ND Paper announced plans to make "key operational changes" at the Rumford mill location that could lead to numerous layoffs.
"Approximately 100 employees will be impacted by the decision," ND Paper said Friday in a written statement.
The company said in the news release that it reached the decision due to what it called challenging market conditions and planned to place one of its machines in "downtime."
The Rumford mill has three paper machines and one pulp dryer, and it employs about 530 full-time employees, its website stated as of 3 p.m. Friday.
"We know the decision for market related downtime will have a significant impact on our team members and their families," the company statement read. "We will be working with affected employees to help them access the resources needed to identify alternative employment opportunities."
ND Paper purchased the Rumford mill in 2018.
George O'Keefe, the economic development director for Rumford, told NEWS CENTER Maine Friday he spoke with mill officials, who apparently clarified with him that the actual number of employees impacted should be lower than 100, due to several unfilled positions.
O'Keefe said the market challenges felt here reach far beyond Oxford County, but he clarified that he had "no long-term concerns" about the future of the mill.
"This is not the same dark cloud as it would have been 15 years ago," O'Keefe said.
The Maine Department of Labor was expected to assist workers impacted by the downtime, O'Keefe added.
United Steel Workers Local 900 spokesperson John Perry told NEWS CENTER Maine Friday that the union representing millworkers must be notified by the company about possible layoffs. Perry confirmed that the union was notified but said ND Paper has final say on staffing cuts.
Perry also said the ND Paper mill in Wisconsin was also facing similar layoffs.
Much like O'Keefe, Perry said despite the layoffs he believes the company is making changes that are in line with a sustainable future.
A timeline for the layoffs was not disclosed, and the exact number of workers impacted by the decision has not been shared.