Smurfit-Stone mill closing delayed, will stay open a few more days

Smurfit-Stone mill closing delayed

MISSOULA, Mont. — Tuesday was to be the last day of papermaking at Smurfit-Stone Container’s linerboard plant in Montana, but crews were notified the date has been pushed back again due to outstanding orders.

Union spokesman Roy Houseman says the closure date is kind of a moving target. He says it looks like the last production day will now be Thursday.

After that, work will begin to mothball the Frenchtown plant, which employs 417.

The employees will be paid through Feb. 11.

Union records say one person has worked at the mill for 51 years, 18 people for at least 40 years, and 107 people have worked there for at least 30 years. Another 90 have worked at the mill for at least 20 years.

Information from: Missoulian, www.missoulian.com