Georgia-Pacific recently announced that it will exit the communication papers business following an assessment of its long-term competitive position in a declining market. As a result, the company will permanently shut down the communication papers machines and related converting assets, as well as the woodyard, pulp mill and a significant portion of the energy complex at its facility in Port Hudson, Louisiana.
Approximately 650 jobs at the facility will ultimately be impacted by the communication papers and pulp asset closures. About 40 business and sales jobs also will be affected by this decision.
Georgia-Pacific will continue to operate and invest in the Port Hudson mill to support its growing consumer tissue and towel business. The company will retain approximately 300 employees to manage those operations.
Final operations of the Port Hudson communication papers and pulp mill assets are expected by mid-March. Georgia-Pacific has begun discussions with union leadership and the hourly and salaried workforce on how the process will work for employees affected by the job reductions, including the potential to transfer to other Georgia-Pacific locations.
"The employees in our printing and writing papers business have worked diligently to support the business, and in recent years we have invested significantly in our operations," said Mike Adams, president of GP PRO and Communication Papers. "We have ultimately decided that the required investment to sustain the operation long term, coupled with the declining market, is not viable. We will be working closely with our printing and writing customers during this time of transition."
For more information, visit www.gp.com.