TURNERS FALLS — The CEO of the Turners Falls Paper Company said on Wednesday that the company is working to ensure all workers will be paid for their time, though he is unsure of when that would happen.
David Mika, who spoke to The Greenfield Recorder on Wednesday at the Turners Falls plant while he was fulfilling orders for clients, said that while he couldn’t discuss the lawsuit filed by two previous employees, he said the company intends to compensate workers for their time.
Employees of the company, who were all abruptly laid off on Aug. 30, have said they did not receive their final paycheck. Two filed suit in U.S. Federal Court in Springfield on Monday.
“It’s my responsibility to pay our employees,” he said on Wednesday.
Mika added that he is working with the company’s bank to get financing for the payments and the company’s additional expenses.
Mika said he couldn’t comment further on any other matters about the closing. About 60 people lost jobs when Southworth closed its plant here. Additionally, it closed up shop in Agawam, where it had offices and another plant.
Southworth bought the mill in Turners Falls in 2006 as part of its acquisition of the Esleeck Paper Co. Esleeck had opened its mill in 1900.
In 2012, Southworth announced that it would sell one of its brands to another paper producer, Neenah Paper Inc., but kept its Turners Falls mill running.
Reach Miranda Davis at
413-772-0261, ext. 280
or mdavis@recorder.com