Boise Cascade plans to close mill

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, April 30, 2009

Boise Cascade has announced it will close its pine lumber mill in La Grande sometime between June 28 and July 12, according to a letter sent from the company this week. The closure will mean 120 workers will lose their jobs.

The Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development received the letter about the closure today from Steve Lyon, Boise Cascade’s human resources manager.

In the letter, Lyon said the company will lay off the employees indefinitely. He also said three unionized workers in the plant’s yard log will be able to “bump” – take jobs from – workers at Boise Cascade’s log yard in Elgin.

Other than those few, Lyon said the company doesn’t know if any other employees will be able to move to other Boise Cascade facilities.

“Based upon the current state of the wood products industry,” Lyon said, “it is unlikely that many such opportunities will be available.”

This is the second large company to shut down in La Grande this year. In March, Fleetwood Enterprises declared bankruptcy and shut down its travel trailer plants in Pendleton and La Grande. Fleetwood had employed 160 workers in La Grande and more than 250 in Pendleton. will lose their jobs.

The Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development received the letter about the closure today from Steve Lyon, Boise Cascade’s human resources manager.

In the letter, Lyon said the company will lay off the employees indefinitely. He also said three unionized workers in the plant’s yard log will be able to “bump” – take jobs from – workers at Boise Cascade’s log yard in Elgin.

Other than those few, Lyon said the company doesn’t know if any other employees will be able to move to other Boise Cascade facilities.

“Based upon the current state of the wood products industry,” Lyon said, “it is unlikely that many such opportunities will be available.”

This is the second large company to shut down in La Grande this year. In March, Fleetwood Enterprises declared bankruptcy and shut down its travel trailer plants in Pendleton and La Grande. Fleetwood had employed 160 workers in La Grande and more than 250 in Pendleton.