News Summary
Georgia-Pacific has announced the permanent closure of its containerboard mill in Cedar Springs, affecting 535 employees. Layoffs are expected by August 1, 2025, with some positions cut sooner. The decision comes as the company restructures to enhance operational efficiency amid changing market conditions. Affected employees will receive severance packages and support in job placement, as production continues temporarily to meet existing commitments. This closure follows recent plant shutdowns in Virginia and Michigan, highlighting broader restructuring efforts by Georgia-Pacific.
Cedar Springs, Georgia – Georgia-Pacific has announced the permanent closure of its containerboard mill located in Cedar Springs, a decision that will result in the layoffs of all 535 employees currently working at the facility. The company indicated that the closure is primarily influenced by the belief that the mill cannot sustainably serve its customers in the long term. Layoffs are expected to begin, with most positions being eliminated by August 1, 2025.
As part of the formal procedures associated with such a significant workforce reduction, Georgia-Pacific filed a worker adjustment and retraining notification with the State of Georgia, coinciding with the announcement. Some layoffs may occur prior to or after the scheduled August 1 date, depending on evolving business needs.
Most of the hourly employees at the Cedar Springs mill are represented by various unions, namely the United Steelworkers Locals 1703 and 1864, alongside the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1980. In light of the layoffs, all salaried employees of the mill will be provided with severance packages. Georgia-Pacific has committed to assisting affected employees in seeking new job opportunities either within the organization, at its parent company Koch Industries, or externally.
To further support displaced workers, Georgia-Pacific plans to hold job fairs and offer placement services. In accordance with legal requirements, employees will continue to receive their pay and benefits until the mandated closure date in August 2025.
Although the Cedar Springs mill will eventually cease operations, production will continue as the facility fulfills existing customer commitments until an orderly shutdown takes place. In preparation for the mill’s closure, Georgia-Pacific intends to shift some of its production to other facilities located in Virginia, Oregon, Mississippi, and Alabama.
The Cedar Springs facility had recently paused operations on paper machine No. 2 due to short-term market disruptions that highlighted the mill’s challenges. The closure of the Cedar Springs mill is part of a broader pattern for Georgia-Pacific, which earlier this month announced the closure of a plywood plant in Emporia, Virginia, affecting 550 employees. Additionally, back in May 2024, the company disclosed the impending closure of its corrugated plant in Milan, Michigan, resulting in 113 job losses.
This latest development forms part of Georgia-Pacific’s strategic decision-making process aimed at ensuring operational efficiency and competitiveness in shifting market conditions. The affected employees are now faced with uncertain futures as the company moves forward with its restructuring efforts across various facilities.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Packaging Dive: Georgia-Pacific Closing Containerboard Mill
- WRIC: Over 550 Employees Jobless After Georgia-Pacific Announces Closure
- WTVR: Georgia-Pacific Closes Plywood Plant in Emporia
- Wikipedia: Georgia-Pacific
- Packaging Dive: Packaging Corporation of America Closure
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Georgia-Pacific
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