**Union Raises Concerns Over Future of New Brunswick Pulp Mills; Officials Remain Unresponsive**
Fredericton, N.B. – Three months after Unifor, Canada’s largest private‑sector union, sent a letter to a federal minister warning that the Aditya Birla‑owned pulp mills in Nackawic and Atholville could be at risk of closure, no official comment has been provided by the company, the union, or government representatives.
**Letter to Federal Minister**
On June 14, Unifor President Lana Payne wrote to Wayne Long, the Secretary of State for the Canada Revenue Agency and Liberal Member of Parliament for Saint John, requesting a meeting to discuss the “long‑term future” of the two specialty cellulose facilities. The letter, obtained by *Brunswick News*, noted that the mills, which employ roughly 700 people in New Brunswick, produce dissolving‑grade pulp used in the global textile industry.
Payne’s correspondence emphasized the economic importance of the plants, stating that they account for about 70 percent of the sea‑can exports handled by the Port of Saint John. She added that the union had already reached out to Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, the Indian conglomerate that owns the facilities.
**Lack of Response from Stakeholders**
Attempts by *Brunswick News* to obtain updates from the company, union officials, and government representatives have been unsuccessful. Mike Legere, director of government relations and communications for AV Group Canada, confirmed that the Nackawic mill stopped accepting wood on Aug 7, citing an excess of inventory, but declined to provide a timeline for resuming deliveries. He did not respond to follow‑up inquiries.
Union officials also remained silent. Jennifer Murray, Unifor’s Atlantic regional director, previously indicated that the union’s primary concern was the need for “proper investment” in modernising the plants. She said the temporary halt in wood deliveries had not resulted in layoffs and that operations continued as normal. Neither Murray nor Payne responded to recent requests for comment.
Provincial officials have not commented either. John Herron, New Brunswick’s Minister of Natural Resources, did not return interview requests. A spokesperson for the Port of Saint John, Becky Knox, declined to comment on commercial activities involving the mill operator, noting that the port “values all of our partners, including AV Group.”
In a brief interview, Minister Long said he was unaware of the specific situation at the mills and had not arranged a meeting with Payne. He suggested that federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly would be the appropriate point of contact, but *Brunswick News* reports that Joly’s office has not responded to inquiries.
**Impact on Local Economy**
The two mills are situated in small communities—Nackawic, west of Fredericton, and Atholville in northern New Brunswick—where they represent a significant source of employment and municipal revenue. The sudden suspension of wood deliveries also affected regional woodlot owners. Matt Daigle, manager of the York‑Sunbury‑Charlotte Forest Products Marketing Board, described the abrupt halt as “unusual” and noted that Nackawic is the primary market for hardwood pulp in the area.
**Background**
Aditya Birla has operated the Nackawic and Atholville facilities for roughly two decades, producing specialty cellulose for use in high‑quality, natural‑based fabrics. The mills’ output constitutes a substantial portion of the cargo handled at the Port of Saint John, linking the plants to broader provincial economic development.
**Next Steps**
As of the date of this report, no public statements have been issued by Aditya Birla, Unifor, or any level of government regarding the future operations of the Nackawic and Atholville mills. Stakeholders continue to await clarification on the status of the facilities and any potential measures to address the union’s concerns about investment and modernization.
Article and image source: tj.news
