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Those workers, and many others in the tight-knit community, spent this weekend showing anyone who was watching that they don’t plan to go quietly.
More than 3,000 people gathered at Memorial Park in Kimberly on Saturday in a show of “Papermaker Pride.” The crowd held signs that urged NewPage’s owners to “Run it ... or Sell it” and chanted that slogan throughout the afternoon.
“We’re showing them they are not standing alone,” said Wayne Crosby of Appleton. “Will this rally get the proper people to the table to make the decision to stay open? I don’t think so, but at the same time you’ve got to keep trying.”
The company announced the closure in July, blaming a weak economy and an influx of lower priced imported paper from places like China.
During the rally, a call was made to NewPage CEO Mark Suwyn. The crowd chanted into the phone and hung a giant card on a nearby storage shed that read “Real Damage, Real People.”
“This is like losing a family,” said Kevin Hietpas, who has worked at the mill for 28 years. “It’s really hard. This really caught everybody by surprise.”
U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton, collected signatures to take to the International Trade Commission in hopes of getting a ruling that stops what he called the illegal product dumping by Europe and China that contributed to the hardships NewPage has faced.
“We’re only here today because of a failed trade policy,” Kagen said.
Those associated with the mill say it remained highly productive right up to the announcement that it was closing.
“So Kimberly goes, so goes the nation,” said State Rep. Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna. “If we can’t keep a profitable, successful mill going, how can we keep any other facility open and running?”
Union leaders say the strong showing gives them a glimmer of hope that the company will reverse its decision to close the mill.
“It’s not over until the fat lady sings,” rally organizer Dan Sawall said. “And the big old gal has not even begun to hum.”
