PORT ANGELES, Washington (From news reports) - With the layoffs of almost 200 workers at the McKinley Paper mill looming in two weeks, the union representing them is still attempting to negotiate a softer landing for their members and get some clarity on when the mill might reopen.

On June 25 the company gave employees a 60-day notice of the massive layoff, the minimum amount of time required under the federal WARN Act. Citing "market conditions" as the reason for the closure of the mill, the company told workers they would restart operations when it became profitable to do so.

Josh Estes of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers (AWPPW) is calling on the mill's management to provide transparency regarding their decision to temporarily close the facility and what it will take to reopen.

"I think that's really where the biggest struggle is, is trying to get some clarity and understanding on what "market conditions" means. I asked specifically across the table, "Which specific market conditions would lead you to make a decision to restart the facility?" They said, "We don't know." We asked, "What market conditions would lead you to permanently close a facility?" "We don't know." So I asked, "Well, who does know?" And the response was, "Well, God, I suppose. God is the only one that knows."

Estes says the company has further escalated tensions by saying they do not consider this a permanent shutdown, allowing McKinley to evade their responsibilities under the Collective Bargaining Agreement to pay severance and extend medical benefits.

"We sat across the table from the company on a number of occasions, most recently last week, and it was made very clear to us that at this point in time they feel like they've satisfied all of their requirements by sending out a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice. Which means that it doesn't look like they intend to pay the additional medical or severance for a closure, because they're considering this not a closure. They're trying to use that as a loophole, and I think they're really trying to just be vague enough so that they can position themselves to get around paying out those benefits."

The laying off of so many workers at once has a ripple effect throughout the community, and local leaders have expressed their support for the workers by working to develop new retraining and placement programs and offering utility cost breaks. There has also been a chorus of voices from the City of Port Angeles, the County and the legislative district joining the union's demand for accountability from McKinley Paper Mill.

"But I think it's really important to emphasize that, you know, the folks that you talked about, Senator Van De Wege and Representative Chapman, Representative Tharinger and the local leaders, it's very clear that their priority is helping these workers and their families so that we can navigate this crazy market conditions storm that McKinley has thrust upon them. And we're grateful for the support, and we appreciate anything that folks can do, and keeping these members in their thoughts and prayers as we move forward to try to get some clarity."