A recent designation by the Bureau of Labor is causing some problems for a Klamath Falls mill.
The Trade Reform Act was aimed at helping workers displaced by foreign competition. But a recent certification for those benefits has resulted in some confusion.
The Bureau of Labor recently announced that about 400 workers at Columbia Plywood are eligible for assistance and benefits through the trade reform act. That announcement led to rumors that the plant was preparing for a major layoff.
Mark Slezak is the Operations Manager at Columbia Plywood. “The truth is, that is untrue. We are not going through any type of sizeable layoff, we are continuing to improve, and become more efficient, and trying to compete, both domestically and globally.”
The company claims that four workers were displaced when the company installed a new dry stacker at the mill. Several of those workers then apparently sought federal assistance.
Jeannine Lupton is with the US Department of Labor. “The certification for Columbia Plywood company was made after three or more employees approached the state of Oregon's Trade Act coordinators office, and asked them to see if they would qualify for the trade act assistance program.”
The Bureau of Labor then conducted an investigation. Lupton says, “In this case the Labor Department found the major customers had increased their reliance on imported hardwood plywood, and that was the trigger that qualified these workers for trade act benefits.”
The announcement prompted some of Columbia’s customers and suppliers to question whether the company was going out of business. Slezak says, “Well, I think the basis for the rumor is that the four affected employees that took voluntary layoffs went in, and signed up for a program that Labor Department offers related to foreign competition. And in this case, I don't believe that it was the appropriate thing to do, although it is a program that is available.”
In short, Columbia Plywood is very much in business, and additional protections are in place for any Columbia workers if that situation should change due to foreign competition.
