MDOL Providing Support to Woodland Pulp Employees

November 7, 2025

For Immediate Release: November 7, 2025

MDOL Providing Support to Woodland Pulp Employees

BAILEYVILLE - The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) announced today that it will provide direct unemployment insurance support to employees affected by a temporary layoff at Woodland Pulp.

The temporary layoff announced earlier this week due to market conditions is expected to impact about two-thirds of Woodland Pulp's Maine workforce. The temporary layoff is expected to begin on November 22 and last until December 16, 2025.

"Woodland Pulp is a critical employer that provides hundreds of good-paying jobs in Washington County. My Administration will do everything we can to support the mill and its workers through this period of economic uncertainty," said Governor Janet Mills.

"The Department has been in contact with both company management and union representatives to determine the best way to assist during this difficult time and have decided that in-person unemployment insurance support would be most helpful," said Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman. "We will be there to connect employees with available resources and make the unemployment insurance benefit process as straightforward as possible."

MDOL staff will be onsite in Baileyville during the week of November 24 to provide individualized assistance to affected employees and connect them with appropriate resources during the layoff. Due to the short duration of the temporary layoff, impacted employees will be given a waiver exempting them from work search requirements associated with unemployment insurance.

Information on unemployment insurance can be found here: maine.gov/unemployment