Georgia Pacific Corp. announced that it will temporarily lay off 29 people at a hardboard plant it operates in Duluth -- letting go about 20 percent of its local 140-person work force.
Plant manager Scott Brown said the difficult decision to cut staff and scale back production resulted from a downturn in demand from the company's two primary hardboard customers -- the automotive and cabinet industries. New car sales have slipped dramatically. But Brown
pointed out that cabinetmakers also have seen business fall off in conjunction with a slump in residential construction.
The layoffs will take effect May 11. No recall date has been established. Brown said workers' return will depend on strengthened demand.
