Lafarge Canada Inc. has temporarily laid off 31 of its 50 unionized workers this month at its Brookfield, Nova Scotia, cement plant as a seasonal cost-cutting measure.
“These workers will be back on the job early in the new year,” said Plant Manager Scarth MacDonnell, who added that the temporary layoff is consistent with the seasonal nature of the business. “It is an unfortunate reality given the weather-related impact of the construction industry.”
The future of the plant is solid as it continues to service Lafarge customers throughout Canada and the U.S. “Lafarge is firmly committed to its Brookfield plant for the long term and we will make the necessary investments to secure our future in Nova Scotia,” said MacDonnell.
In 2010, Lafarge received $670,000 from the ecoNova Scotia Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change to produce a variety of low-carbon cements, which are scheduled to be in production by 2015. The move will help the company reduce the clinker factor by over 20 percent and cut GHG emissions by 76,000 tpy.
