Franklin mill workers look for hope

FRANKLIN, Va. - Help is on the way for workers at International Paper in Franklin, which is expected to close next spring resulting in more than one thousand employees losing their jobs.

On Wednesday night elected officials, including Congressman Randy Forbes, held an economic meeting in Franklin to help the paper mill workers take their next step.

At the public meeting speakers from the Virginia Employment Commission and other state programs talked about the options available for mill employees to get job training or participate in resume workshops. The programs are all intended to make mill workers more employable at other jobs.

Members of Congress sent a letter on Wednesday to the CEO and Board of Directors of International Paper "asking for a meeting to discuss the decision to close the Franklin mill, and to explore the company’s willingness to work with us on the timing of the shutdown and potential future uses of the facility and site." Senators Warner, Webb and Hagan (NC), as well as Reps. Scott and Forbes signed the letter.

"We got tough news last week," said International Paper employee Kenny Mizell, who's been working at the plant for sixteen years. "It's been trying. It's been trying."

"[International Paper has] been a good company up until now, but they let us down really bad, really bad," said former mill worker Dot Pugh.

Pugh worked at the Franklin Mill for sixteen years before retiring. Now, two grandkids, a daughter and son-in law work there. She stood outside the Workforce Development Center where Wednesday night's economic meeting took place.

"A lot of the men don't want to come and that's sad. They feel like they've been booted out," she said.

Gloria Britt's husband has worked at the mill 17 years. "There are so many rumors going around," she told WAVY.com before the meeting. "I'm going to the meeting to find out if somebody else, something green might come in or what's in the thoughts of those in control of everything."

Franklin Mayor Jim Councill took a stroll up Main Street wondering what will become of the plant, its workers, and their livelihood.

"Now what we're trying to find out is what will International Paper allow us to do with the mill. They will not let it be a paper mill and that's understandable. They've reduced their capacity but at other mills they have allowed the mills to be retrofitted to other purposes," he told WAVY.com.

Mayor Councill thinks a non-competitive re-use could mean new jobs for mill workers with retraining. There are many economic options out there, according to Mayor Councill, but his first concern is making sure 1,100 families will have an income, have a job when the mill closes next spring.

Additionally, the Virginia Employment Commission will be part of a "rapid response" team that will visit the plant this week to begin setting up unemployment services.

When more than 1,000 workers walk away from International Paper for the last time next year, the Virginia Employment Commission hopes it will have helped all of them in some way. Workers are advised to start looking now for work.

"They should start looking at newspapers and go online and start applying for jobs through the Virginia Employment Commission ," said Louise Tomlinson, VEC Manager. She says this can be done in person, by phone or online and they would need a social security number, company name and dates of employment.

Demetra Vick says it's still sinking in that her husband will lose his job as a welder after working at the paper mill for 20 years. "Everyone I think always held out hope that we'd overcome, the mill would pull through all the devices and we'd be okay, and that didn't happen," Vick told WAVY.com. However, she remains optimistic. 

To seek help, visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website and register.