Laid-off workers’ benefits extended N.H. plan to help ex-mill employees

GORHAM, N.H. – Idle millworkers whose unemployment benefits run out next week have received some good news.

The state has worked out a plan for them to receive reduced benefits until they are recalled.

Nexfor Fraser has restarted several paper machines at its mill in Gorham, but most of the 850 people laid off last August when Pulp and Paper of America closed operations remain unemployed.

Unemployment benefits for many begin running out next week.

Most will be eligible to sign up for a second year, although the benefit will be about half the $320 weekly payment the workers have been receiving.

But a significant number were facing the loss of all benefits because of a new rule, enacted in March, that they must have earned $700 in the previous year to be eligible for a second year of benefits.

Eddie Deblois, president of the paperworkers union, said the governor’s office has helped come up with benefits to hold them over.

Using a $4.5 million federal grant received last fall, a program has been set up to allow the workers to be eligible for needs-related assistance.

The workers must be in a training program receiving nine hours of training or instruction a week to qualify. The worker also must meet income guidelines and cannot be eligible for unemployment compensation.

Deblois said the assistance level is reduced from what the worker received on unemployment compensation but said it will at least provide money for food and basic needs.

He did not have an exact number of workers who are facing the shut-off, but said it’s less than a hundred.

Pamela Walsh, spokeswoman for Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, said 64 people have attended the sessions and 12 have filed applications for the program.

She said 10 have already been approved for needs-related assistance.

Nexfor Fraser has recalled about 350 hourly and salaried workers in Gorham.

The company hopes to restart the mill’s other two paper machines by the end of the year.

The pulp mill in Berlin, however, is not expected to start operating until next year.