Approval of a labour deal between the United Steelworkers union and Aspen Planers in December cleared the way for the reopening of the Savona Specialty Plywood Mill in British Columbia, followed by the Lillooet feeder mill this year, according to local media reports.
Former owner Ainsworth Lumber closed the facility about 18 months ago because of market conditions and the strength of the Canadian dollar, resulting in 150 layoffs at Savona and 100 at Lillooet, reports CFJC TV7 of Kamloops.
Aspen Planers bought both operations a year ago and began negotiations with the union in June 2010.
The Savona mill has been out of the market for almost 18 months.