Unifor is calling on the federal government to become involved in the future of AV Group NB’s mills in Nackawic and Atholville, New Brunswick, arguing that the facilities play a key role in the province’s forest economy and export activity.
In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Wayne Long, Unifor National President Lana Payne highlighted the importance of the two mills, which produce dissolving pulp used to manufacture viscose fibres for the textile industry.
According to Unifor, the facilities account for approximately 70% of the containerized export volume moving through the Port of Saint John, making them significant contributors to the regional economy. Any reduction or loss of operations would have major implications for employment, port activity and the province’s supply chain.
The union said workers have recently expressed concerns about the future of the mills. Discussions are underway with mill management, the Government of New Brunswick and parent company Aditya Birla Group.
Unifor believes several opportunities could help strengthen the long-term viability of the sites. Among the options identified are diversification into higher-value products, including xylitol, specialty chemicals and bioenergy. The union also points to the mills’ access to high-quality fibre resources and their skilled workforce as key advantages for attracting future investment.
In this context, Payne noted that the recently released Canadian Forest Sector Transformation Task Force report recommends securing long-term access to fibre and supporting industrial modernization and transformation projects. According to Unifor, these recommendations could create new opportunities for investment and financial support for Canadian forest-sector facilities.
The union is therefore calling on governments, the company and worker representatives to work together on a plan aimed at securing the long-term future of the Nackawic and Atholville mills.
