Tricon lays off 40 workers

Employees of the St. Regis Timber Company Tricon are feeling the economic crunch that has been hurting timber companies across the nation as Tricon laid off 40 workers last Wednesday.

“We’re really proud of our employees and this is not something we like to do,” said Tricon manager Angelo Ververis.

Ververis said that between high timber bids, low sale prices and soaring gas prices, the company simply could not afford to keep on the 40 employees.

“The Market has just taken a turn for the worst and if you can’t move your lumber it’s hard to keep running,” Ververis said.

Ververis said that the struggling timber market is affecting companies across the state and the company’s layoffs were inevitable with the current market conditions.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a random links chart of what the market does but it’s like a rollercoaster and we’re definitely in one of the low points,” Ververis said.

He added that despite the current grim outlook for the timber industry he expects things to turn around as long as they can weather the current economic storm.

“We really do appreciate our workers and it’s really disgusting when you have to have meetings and do layoffs like we’re doing right now,” Ververis said. “You know, it’s just a matter of time before things come back around, but we’ve got really good people and that’s why we’re still here.”

In order to deal with the changing market, Ververis said that Tricon and other major timber companies are working with the Missoula Area Economic Development Corporation and the state to find ways to build the timber industry in Montana.

“The timber industry had some discussions with the state of Montana to try to see how we can retain what part of the industry we have left,” said Chad DeLong, vice president of MAEDC.

Ververis and DeLong both agree that the state’s help is integral to building the timber industry.

“If we could get the forest service and the state to put up timber sales in today’s market, it’s definitely a key to our survival,” Ververis said.

They have also proposed other short term solutions, such as increasing the maximum allowed gross vehicle weight for timber hauling vehicles. Ververis said that being able to haul more timber per load would save Tricon a good deal of money on gas and hauling time.

Ververis said that they also plan to work with the state to get timber sales closer to existing facilities, saving companies on gas and driving time to get the timber to their mills.

According to DeLong, the timber industry is working with the state and conservation groups to find ways to preserve the industry in Montana.

“We’re all in agreement that we need to retain this industry,” DeLong said.