Smurfit-Stone plant in Ontonagon shutting down

ONTONAGON, Mich. -- Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.'s mill in Ontonagon will shut down indefinitely in mid- to late September.

Company spokesman Mike Mullin tells The Daily Mining Gazette of Houghton the shutdown results from market conditions.

Union vice president Dennis O'Brien says layoffs are expected to begin after second shift Sept. 19. He says it's uncertain how long the plant, which makes cardboard box parts, will be down.

It will be the second shutdown in the past year. The mill closed last November and didn't reopen until May 26. More than 130 workers were affected.

Smurfit-Stone is the largest employer in Ontonagon County, with more than 200 hourly and salaried workers. The company is based in Chicago.