LONGVIEW — U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez called on Nippon Dynawave to provide a written guarantee that workers at its Longview mill will continue receiving pay and benefits following the May 26 implosion that killed 11 employees. The incident forced the shutdown of part of the facility, which employs nearly 500 workers in the affected section.
Gluesenkamp Perez said company officials verbally committed on May 27 to continue compensating employees during the investigation into the explosion, but workers have since been told they will only be paid through June 7. In response, the congresswoman sent a letter to Matt Peerboom, President of Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company, urging the company to formalize its commitment in writing for the duration of any operational disruption.
“Many employees and their families face profound uncertainty,” she wrote. “Workers are understandably concerned about their livelihoods and their ability to support their households during what may be an extended period of operational disruption.”
The implosion occurred when a vessel containing “white liquor,” a highly corrosive chemical used in paper production, reportedly collapsed at the Longview facility. The mill is a major employer in southwest Washington, and the disaster has left the community reeling.
She also pledged to continue pushing for a full investigation into the disaster and accountability for those responsible. As of Tuesday, Nippon Dynawave and its owners had not publicly responded to her request. It remains unclear how long state and federal investigators will need to determine the cause of the explosion or whether operations can resume.
No independent assessment was available for this report.