In today’s tough economic times, no one can really be certain about keeping their jobs. This truth hit the people of Franklin, Virginia (VA) very hard, when they learned that a local paper mill was closing. This mill employed over 1,000 people, all of which are now going to be without work.
Carroll Story, the president of the United Steelworkers local that represents the workers, said: "Right now, everyone is in a hole. They’re in a daze, a dream. They’re like, ‘What happened?’ "
"You have people here 30, 40 years, and this is all that they’ve ever done," said Story, 49, who has worked at the mill for 31 years. "It’s going to be devastating to the community. There’s not enough work in this area to absorb this work force."
The Memphis-based company, International Paper, has been closing several mills around the country, but shutting down the Franklin mill alone is going to account for more than 2/3 of the company’s recent lay-offs.
While the laid-off employees will be getting severance packages, and job-placement assistance, it will be difficult for the surrounding community of Isle of Wight County, Virginia to absorb the new pool of labor. Thus, a community that has depended on this mill since 1887 is now going to be forced to undergo drastic changes.
The paper company’s representatives claim that it was a difficult decision for them, and in no way reflected on the employees’ skills or hard work, but many in Franklin are now bitter about the way big business has chosen profit over people. Often, a corporation, in selling a plant, will refuse to sell it to anyone who competes with the company pulling out in paper products which is likely the best use for the property and would be the easiest way to reuse the factory.
It is certainly a difficult situation for everyone involved, but my heart goes out especially to the citizens of Franklin, Virginia, who are the most recent victims of the recession and the greed of corporate America. Loss of your job is a devastating problem for a worker or family to face. Although the people of Franklin will survive this body blow, it is sad that the company did not do more to prevent this damage to people who had given so much to the business for so long.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
5 Comments
Franklin Gal
What makes it an even harder pill for us to swallow is that this mill is profitable. Also, the CEO was just here in April assuring everyone that the mill was doing well. Corporate greed at it's best!
Duane Lugdon
What we are NOT seeing in the media reports is whether there is any commitment by International Paper to sell the Franklin mill if a buyer could be found. Although I suppose the answer is academic if we look at this company's track record. They are notorious for ruining communities and families even when other investors have said they would buy the assets. It should be a criminal act to do such things to people. God Bless the hard working people of Franklin and the surrounding communities who deserve better than International Paper's ethic.
Duane Lugdon, Bradley, Maine
Franklin Gal
IP has pretended that they would consider selling the site to another type of industry. However, they have said they will not sell to a competitor. The employees were told by IP officials that this mill will NEVER make paper again. Check out our local paper for better coverage...Tidewaternews.com
Greg Brunnhuber
sad news to be sure ... but how many of the employees subscribed to the local paper ... or send letters ... or worked to help control costs rather than pursue presumed entitlements
FranklinGal
My household for one subscribes to the local paper. Even though this mill does not make newsprint. I send cards, letters and choose to receive paper statements for my bills. Aside from that, the employees were asked earlier this year to brainstorm and implement a cost savings of $29 per ton. This was to compensate for a machine that was shut down in 2008. The employees of this mill went above and beyond what was expected and found ways to save $51 per ton. In return, they didn't even get so much as a thanks for that! They aren't expecting or getting anything that wasn't earned!
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