It’s another blow to the city of Prince Rupert and the commercial fishing sector. JS McMillan Fisheries has announced that it plans to close down its North Coast fish processing facility later this year which will mean the loss of 80 full time jobs in Prince Rupert.

“It might be devastating for us”, stated JS McMillans, Pat Schooley, “but for our long time employees it is likely more devastating.”

Schooley spoke about the dedication of the workers at JS McMillan, many whom have been at the same plant for over three decades. “We have an employee who has been working here for 49 years.”

JS McMillians grandson, General Manager Colin McMillan, provided some context to the history of the operation. His Grandfather began the company in the late 50’s in New Westminster, starting a plant in Vancouver and then up to Prince Rupert. First operating a plant at the North end of Rupert they bought out the Coop when it fell on hard times 30 years ago. This is the present day location of the operation. Many of the Coop workers continued with JS McMillan and that is why they find employees who have been with the plant longer than the company.

Schooley addressed the causes of the financial need to close the operations. First he spoke about the rising Canadian dollar. “At an 80% dollar things were viable and we could make money but at a dollar two it caused real concerns. Eighty percent of our product went to the US market.” McMillan interrupted him and explained even more of the product was sold in US dollars so it wasn’t just the US market.

“The cost of shipping has increased with the rise in fuel prices so the combination of these things has put us in this position.” continued Schooley.

Both Schooley and McMillan spoke about the catch. The Springs are good right now but the bumper harvests of Sockeye are not coming.

“Years ago the Alaskans didn’t have the capacity and thousands of pounds, hundreds of thousands of pounds, were diverted here. Now they have built up their capacity and we don’t see it.” stated Schooley.

When asked about the reduction plant, McMillian stated it will continue to operate.

“For years we have worked together with the City and the other fish plants. We understand each others operations and the costs associated with the harvest. It isn’t a secret. All operations have contributed to the costs of operating the reduction facility and it will continue to operate.”

We asked McMillan about the concerns regarding the sale of the facility and he stated they had no plans. When asked about the potential, the concerns about selling the land to the container port for expansion, he denied it stating the reduction plant needed to operate and it was in between their facility and the Port.

Schooley stated there would still be JS McMillan operations as they had boats and fisherman under contract.

Other Prince Rupert businesses and their employees have expressed great concern over the closure.

“These guys come into our store and buy boxes of knives at a time. Twenty, thirty knives at once, ropes and all sorts of gear, all that will be gone.” stated one worker at a supply company.

“I guess it’s the trickle down effect”, stated Schooley, “It’s not a good day for all of us.”

McMillan explained the shut down is a working shutdown. They have provided four months notice to the Union and workers of the closure. They haven’t yet begun talks with the Union about the final details and expect to have discussions shortly. There isn’t a severance package available as the four months is considered time enough for the workers to find ways to prepare for their own future. McMillan expressed sympathy, especially for those who have build there lives, their families, generations at the facility.

Schooley explained the pension funds were in the control of the Union and didn’t have anything to do with the company closing the operations.

The plant is scheduled to officially close at the end of October.