As the Aspen Planers sawmill in Merritt prepares for a shift reduction next week, operations in Savona and Lillooet aren’t affected at this time.

Director of Communications Brian Menzies tells NL they employ about 850 people between their three operations.

Menzies says the company would periodically shutdown in an attempt to deal with the economic challenges.

“There are no changes right now planned for Savona or Lillooet and at this point in time, so right now these layoffs are specific to Merritt.”

Fifty people at the mill were given layoff notices yesterday, while about 200 people are expected to be affected in total, and Menzies added it is a wait and see approach at this point.

“The company works as an integral company so certain logs go to Merritt, certain logs would go to Lillooet for peeling and then off to Savona for plywood side of things,” Menzies said. “Hopefully for the supply we have right now, we can keep those going at the levels they are at.”

As for the future?

“It’s pretty hard on those people to begin with that have received that notice and hopefully, we’ll see changes in the future that will change us around. But it seems like a pretty difficult time right now.”

Calling the layoffs devastating, United Steelworkers Local 1-417 President Marty Gibbons is hopeful that the layoffs lead to stability for the remaining employees as the mill has been running at 50 per cent for the several months.