Sunday, December 21, 2008

SF Chronicle writes about Evergreen Employee and LA Time does Russia pulp mill story!

Health insurance options limited after job loss for Evergreen workers.

Simalarities abound at a larger scale. Russia town hinges on pulp mill's fate - Los Angeles Times

Corporations invading and crushing workers rights!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Regarding the S.F. Chronicle story: Now you're beginning to make some 'noise' Richard!

When your Local's plight makes the three major national nightly news channels ABC, CBS and NBC, then the rest of the country will begin to understand what is really taking place in a community located up along the northern coast of California.

The word needs to be conveyed how each one of these mill closures has effected a community and its workforce.

Some coverage on MSNBC.COM and CNN.COM would be great, too!

Has the Local contacted Lou Dobbs of CNN yet for some air time? This is the kind of material that he likes to cover.

Again, see if you can also get some news time on one of three national news networks. Might be worth a couple of calls, Richard.

Get the word out!

Carol said...

I agree with anonymous, Richard. Keep making noise!

Rose said...

THe second story tells you why it is hopeless, Richard.

Even if, by hook or by crook, you managed to save the pulp mill, even if by some miracle you all banded together and bought it - you would be out of business in a year.

Because, unlike the Russian town, you could not survive the onslaught of activist groups working to shut you down, with ever escalating standards to meet, and lawsuits at every turn, no matter how much you invested in trying to keep ahead of the curve. Your cost of doing business would be too high.

Logging is dead. Fishing is all but dead. The pulp mill is dead. Tourism isn't what was expected.

Ain't nuthin' left here, Richard. And even if you could turn Humboldt County around, you still have the draconian anti-business environment statewide.

This is going to be a retirement community for those who can afford to live here without jobs, Richard. Open a Kayak shop, or become a home health provider... the retirees want to play, and after that, they're going to need care.

Anonymous said...

Richard,

Don't give up hope. Jobs are needed in the county and the community realizes that there isn't much industry left here. The remaining lumber mills need a source to dispose of their wood chips.

Evergreen is also the last pulp mill in California.

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that if the local lumber companies need a way of disposal of their chips they should consider. Finding someone that knows how to run a Pulp Mill.
This would add value to there chips.

Anonymous said...

2:03 your post is fantastic.

Anonymous said...

ally bad.

Anonymous said...

I have talked with people that were around for the depression.
One of the overriding things that I have heard about recovery is that once it is started, whoever is making the decisions should hire the most skilled people to run the operation...
In my short time in industry I have seen the management is very adapt at hiring people that they can control. Someone that is not going to be a threat to them in understanding what has to be done to get the most done for the dollar. Management has changed over the years from being the most skilled, to being the yes men of upper management.
Instead of running a company to produce the product for the highest return. It is produce the product to please the boss. (Even if the boss has never understood exactly what has to be done), in other words, skilled labor is one of the most important things in a business.

Anonymous said...

Richard,

I watch NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams religiously each evening and I have yet to view your group, the Evergreen pulp mill employees covered on it.

I would like to see a news segment done which follows the plight of your pulp mill and it's employees once LP spun it off.

Maybe you and or one or more of your fellow coworkers could provide a detailed insight to a reporter about what has happened at your mill after LP sold it, describing the various entities which have owned it up until now and how in your opinion, the operation has been through one "cut and run" ordeal after another.