Created: 6/6/2006 8:35:04 PM 
By Jessica Clark First Coast News
PALATKA, FL -- Robert Robbins has worked at the Palatka Georgia Pacific paper mill for 33 years. He?s survived management and ownership changes before. Now this United Steel Workers Union President hopes he can survive the latest Georgia Pacific merger with Koch as well as union negotiations.
?Right now, we?re in the talking stage,? Robbins says. He?s referring to the talks between Georgia Pacific and the unions.
A Georgia Pacific spokesman, Jeremy Alexander, says Koch?s purchase of Georgia Pacific has resulted is the way the mill will run. He says the company is bringing more efficient technology and upgrades to the mill which means it will need fewer workers.
Georgia Pacific, Alexander says, has already offered its 200 salaried employees severance packages. He says it's now considering offering its other 1000 hourly employees severance packages too. The company has not presented what the enhanced packages will consist of to the hourly employees and unions just yet. That?s expected to take place this week or next.
Alexander says Georgia Pacific hopes enough employees will voluntarily take the severance packages so the company will not have to lay off anyone.
Alexander would not say how much work force reduction is expected or needed. He says it will rely on the technological changes made within the mill.
As for Robbins, he doesn?t know what he will do yet. He says he?ll ?hope and pray that I still have a job or at least I get a package good enough so that I can take it.?
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