Hundreds gather in solidarity before shuttered RYAM plant in Témiscaming - BayToday.ca

A coalition of managers, unionized workers, and First Nations in Témiscaming, Que., is seeking to purchase the idled Rayonier Advanced Materials paperboard plant to restart operations and safeguard local jobs. Unifor national president Lana Payne emphasized the importance of local ownership for the plant's future, stating it offers a path to sustainable success. Quebec's Unifor director Daniel Cloutier highlighted the need for processing mills to maximize the province's forest resources, stressing that skilled jobs and a network of suppliers are at risk. This initiative recalls the community-led effort in 1973 to reopen a mill after its closure in 1972. Unifor Local 233 president Stéphane Lefebvre expressed commitment to developing a plan for the mill's future, noting that community experience will be vital in shaping its revival. The coalition aims to purchase Rayonier Advanced Materials' idled plant in Témiscaming.

Photo courtesy of Unifor. Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) has stopped production at its paperboard plant in Témiscaming, Que., as the company had announced in August. The closure of the pulp and paper mill, which the company said is due to U. S. tariffs making its business unsustainable, affects some 425 jobs. The mill dates back to 1919 and was the largest job provider in its town, with employees from both Québec and nearby Ontario.