RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – Over the next few months, one of the paper-making machines at the Ahlstrom Munksjo Paper Mill in Rhinelander will be idled. The announcement was made on Tuesday. The impact on workers there is unknown.
Officials say they need to make the plant more efficient. They say the move allows them to remain competitive in the paper industry. But for the employees at that plant the future is still unknown.
“We are going to be continuing to go through this process truly through next summer, 2022. So and throughout that time we will be assessing current open positions in the plant, as new positions become open, and also just upcoming retirements, natural retirements that we have occurring,” said Addie Teeters, Head of Marketing Communications & Public Affairs, Ahlstrom Munksjo.
The mill currently employs around 500 workers. The machine has already begun the idling process, but it won’t take effect officially until December. Other parts of the facility tied to it will also go idle, but not until July of next year.
Until the idling actually happens, officials say they can’t know how many workers will be impacted.
