Tag: Verso Mill closure

WERU News Report 12/17/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Studio Engineer: John Greenman

It’s Wednesday, so we’ve just got a few short news clips and we’re opening the phone lines for your calls for most of the half hour. We’re working on a theme of local solidarity today. How do we keep power, control and resources in LOCAL hands? How do we get it back when it’s been lost?

*Judy Robbins from “Let Cuba Live” with a reaction to today’s news about normalizing relations with that country *Audio from a rally that just ended, outside the mill in Bucksport this afternoon as the last shift of workers leaving the mill were met by supporters
*A report on a donation to the solidarity fund for Fairpoint workers made earlier in the week
*News about a fracking ban in New York that was announced today
*Listener calls

Common Health 10/15/14

Host: Jim Fisher
Engineer: Joel Mann

Program Topic: Responding to Bucksport Verso Mill Closing

Key Discussion Points:
A) What is happening with the Verso Mill in Bucksport?
B) What are some of the immediate impacts of the announced closing?
C) What programs are being implemented to assist employees, families and the wider community?
D) What can communities do to avoid major impacts like this?

Guests:

A) David Milan, Economic Development Director
Town of Bucksport
P.O. Box X
Bucksport, ME 04416 
www.bucksportmaine.gov
B) Judy Pelletier Rapid Response Program Manager
Maine Department of Labor
54 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
Phone: (207) 623-7993
Fax: (207) 287-5933
Facebook: Maine Department of Labor and SafetyWorks! 
C) Lynn Cheney, Health Care Navigator
Washington Hancock Community Agency
248 Bucksport Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605
Phone: (207) 664-2424
Fax: (207) 664-2430
Machias: (207) 259-5015

RadioActive 10/9/14

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Reactions to Bucksport Paper Mill Closure Announcement

Key Discussion Points:
a) Last week, Verso announced it will close it’s paper mill in Bucksport in December, laying off 570 workers.
b) Today we get the perspective of two longtime workers and union members at the mill.
c) They reflect on the reasons, the potential impacts on the community, and on the lack of financial or community accountability by large corporations, such as Verso.

Guests:

A) Emery Deabay : has worked at the Bucksport Mill for over 30 years, is president of the United Steelworkers of Maine, union local 1188, and is running for state legislature in as a Democrat District 40 (Bucksport and Orrington) http://bangordailynews.com/2014/10/15/opinion/contributors/taxpayers-have-subsidized-companies-success-wheres-the-return/
B) Linda Murch has worked at the Bucksport Mill for over 15 years. She is currently on leave, working at the Alliance for American Manufacturing http://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/entry/a-paper-mills-closing-hits-home-for-this-aam-staffer