The 420 employees at the Stoneywood graphic and packaging paper mill in Scotland were informed last week that their management, Arjowiggins, is expected to cut 74 jobs.
"The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on Arjowiggins' operations, and while we expect some recovery next year, we do not expect a return to pre-Covid conditions and plans." said Jonathan Mitchell, CEO of the Scottish group, in a statement to the English press.
18 % of the workforce of the factory founded in 1770 should therefore be eliminated. Shauna Wright, industrial manager of the English trade union Unite the Union, says : "This is another blow to the Stoneywood plant crew. We had reason to be pleased last year when the mill made it past 250 years thanks to a management buyout. Unfortunately, due to the covid pandemic and current market conditions, we've been informed that approximately 74 jobs are at risk." The union, the largest in the country, is currently working with management to limit the impact of these layoffs.
The factory Arjowiggins' Stoneywood has been taken over by Jonathan Mitchell In September 2019, Arjowiggins Creative Papers, owned by the French company Sequana, went into receivership. The takeover also includes the Chartham plant in Kent, England, which was launched last October, Sylvicta, a translucent paper-based barrier material The Arjowiggins plant in Guarro Casas, Spain, and another in Quzhou, China. And the operation was carried out in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise (Scotland's national economic development agency).
"After experiencing the exhilaration of successfully stepping down as CEO a year ago and creating real positive momentum in the first six months, a restructuring programme was the last thing on our minds. It was not an easy decision to make and we are well aware of the impact it will have on those directly affected and on the community as a whole made a point of pointing out the leader.
