Ireland based Smurfit Westrock will close its corrugated box plant in Portland, Oregon, and lay off 72 employees, according to a notification letter dated April 8 addressed to state and local officials.
Robby Johnson, Smurfit Westrock director of external communications for North America, told Packaging Dive that employees would be let go in phases beginning in June over a 14-day period. Bumping rights available to bargaining unit members will be governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement provisions. Johnson said that the Portland plant’s production capacity will shift to other company facilities which include a recycling plant in Portland, and multiple sites in Washington including the Longview Mill.
