Camas paper mill to partially close, cut up to 300 jobs

APNewsNow.

CAMAS, Wash. – The paper mill in the southwest Washington city of Camas is cutting up to 300 jobs.

The Columbian newspaper reported that Georgia-Pacific announced plans Tuesday to shut down several operations at the mill, which opened in 1885 and employed about 2,400 workers in the 1980s. After the partial closure, which is due to take effect starting in the second quarter of next year, just 120 to 140 jobs will remain.

Camas City Administrator Peter Capell says he’s worried about how the workers will pay their mortgages, car payments and other costs. He says the paper mill is the reason Camas exists.

Georgia-Pacific, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, says the reason for the cuts is lower demand for office paper, but labor leaders disagree. Greg Pallesen, president of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers, says demand for paper products remains high, but products from Asia are being imported more cheaply.