Verso Workers Begin Next Chapter [AUDIO]

SARTELL - Union leaders will meet this week with management at the Verso Paper Mill in Sartell.  Lyle Fleck is the President of United Steelworkers Local 274.  He says they'll hold effects bargaining sessions tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday.

Fleck says the average age of the 259 recently laid-off workers is about 55 years old.  A lot of them have worked at the mill for about 30 years.  He says local organizations will be working with the workers to get started applying for jobs.

He says his members have skills needed in other industries.

The Memphis-Based Verso Paper Corporation announced last Thursday that they will not re-open the plant after the Memorial Day explosion and fire that shut-down the facility.