Crown Reopens Mill After Strike Ends

Wed., May 3, 1995

From Staff And Wire Reports

Portland-based Crown Pacific Ltd. Tuesday reopened its Thompson Falls, Mont., sawmill after workers there ended their month-old strike.

But the timber company still plans to close the mill permanently on June 26 if a buyer for the facility cannot be found.

The 154 mill employees represented by the Western Council of Industrial Workers walked out April 4 over benefits in their contract.

Crown Pacific, which bought the mill in 1993, had reopened the labor agreement in January.

Crown officials announced on April 27 that they would close the mill. Under federal law, Crown can close the mill after a 60-day notice.

The company continues to contact other timber producers to find an interested party to purchase the mill, said Fletcher Chamberlin, spokesman for Crown Pacific.

The mill should be up to full capacity by the end of this week, he said.

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Crown Reopens Mill After Strike Ends

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