Georgia-Pacific To Lay Off 158 In Wisconsin

Producer of napkins, paper towels and bath tissue will lay off nearly a quarter of the employees from its papermaking plant in Green Bay.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Georgia-Pacific has told Wisconsin officials it will lay off almost 160 workers from its papermaking plant in Green Bay.

That represents as much as a quarter of the employees there, who produce napkins, paper towels and bath tissue.

Company spokeswoman Mary Jo Malach (MAL'-lik) says she can't confirm or deny the layoffs until company officials finish meeting with all local employees Friday morning.

But in a letter dated Tuesday, the Atlanta-based company tells the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development that 158 workers will be laid off as of February 2. The company's Web site says the plant has about 600 manufacturing employees.

Most of the eliminated positions are line workers, including machine operators and mill laborers.

More in Operations