Tolko is temporarily cutting some graveyard and weekend shifts at the Heffley Creek mill in Kamloops, citing a drop in the demand for some of its wood products.

The company’s Director of People and Services, Brett VanderHoek, tells NL News the graveyard lathe shift and weekend drying shifts will be impacted beginning the first week of April.

“Employees have been informed this week and we are working to redeploy those impacted,” VanderHoek said. “The site will continue to produce veneer to meet the internal demand for plywood production.”

The Heffley Creek Mill employs 250 people that produce plywood and veneer.

“We would prefer to be fully operational and are working to redeploy employees within the terms of the collective agreement,” VanderHoek added. “This temporary shift reduction is due to high fibre costs and weak North American plywood markets.”

“Unfortunately I can’t speculate on when plywood markets will improve or estimate how many employees will be impacted on those shifts.”

Tolko also temporarily ceased operations at its Armstrong and Soda Creek operations earlier this year, though those facilities reopened on March 6.