A deal between Pactiv Evergreen and the regional United Steelworkers union is a win of some degree for workers who choose to stay with the company through June 9, when job eliminations are set to begin.

“I hate to condition it as good news because I wish there was no news at all,” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said.

The Canton paper mill will shut down this summer.

Gov. Roy Cooper plans to visit the area Thursday, but no other details about his stop were available.

Smathers said many layers are involved in closing the Canton plant, including reaching a company-union agreement, because many of the jobs were union jobs.

“It does seem coming out of it there was a lot of compromises made, that there was money given back to the workers in the form of raises, back-dating it,” Smathers said.

Workers received WARN notices last month identifying June 9 as the date job eliminations will begin.

“These workers, both union and non-union, deserve every bit of respect and opportunity they can from Evergreen,” Smathers said.

The WARN letters indicate union workers are eligible for benefits in “accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the company and the union.”

Non-union employees will be offered “severance and outplacement benefits under Evergreen's severance pay plan.”

Eligibility requires working through designated separation dates.

“There are several different layers, depending on who you are, what your employment is. Obviously, there'll be a skeleton crew in Evergreen after that June date, obviously involving wastewater. In my mind, I’m treating that June date as the last day for the majority of workers. It may get a little bit more technical for each person. But I see that as a major date, sadly, marked on my calendar for closure,” Smathers said.

As for the company's Waynesville operation, Pactiv Evergreen Communications Director Beth Kelly said, "Pactiv Evergreen continues to explore strategic alternatives for the Waynesville extrusion facility."

The plant is not identified for closure, but Haywood County Economic Development Director David Francis said it is listed as being for sale.

Waynesville Mayor Gary Caldwell said about 50 employees will remain at the Waynesville facility.

 

STORY & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSPactiv Evergreen, union make worker pay deal; governor to visit Canton on Thursday | WLOS