Published: July 03, 2008 08:26 am      

Union sues Georgia Pacific

Georgia Pacific was sued Monday by the union representing employees who were left jobless after the plant in MidAmerica Industrial Park shut down June 9.

Steven Hickman, attorney representing the union, filed a complaint in federal court stating Georgia Pacific failed to comply with the WARN Act (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) notification requirements.

The warn act requires a company give workers 60 days notice with three exceptions: a faltering company, unforseeable business circumstances or a natural disaster. The burden of proof that the conditions for the exception have been met rests with Georgia Pacific.

The suit claims employees lost benefits as protected by the WARN Act and the union is asking for a judgement estimated to be in excess of $1 million.

When Georgia Pacific closed, a representative attributed it to the slow housing market and decrease in new construction lowering the demand for paper wall board facing (sheet rock) made at the plant.

The representative said the plant was closing

indefinitely.