The future of a local wood product company seems uncertain.
Employees of Global Sticks, championed as the future of the value-added forestry industry, say they have not received their most recent pay cheque, which were previously deposited directly into their accounts.
A local operation that has been supplying Global Sticks with wood also says the company has been down for at least two weeks.
There are also unconfirmed reports of a long list of unpaid creditors. Sources indicate the owners are desperately seeking new capital to help keep the plant alive.
All of these reports have not been confirmed, and the company has not offered comment.
People were coming and going from the quiet plant Friday afternoon.
An employee, who wanted to remain anonymous over fear of losing employment by speaking to media, said he became upset after leaving the office. The employee said a pay cheque wasn’t issued this week.
And when employees went to inquire about it, he said they were told that the company was restructuring and cheques would be issued on Tuesday.
“Every rumour you hear about this place is true,” the employee said.
Global Sticks has received $7 million in provincial funding. Forestry minister Michael Gravelle said he has been working with the company for several weeks through what he called a challenging time.
Gravelle said he’s waiting to hear from company officials on where the process will go next.
Several calls to Global Sticks’ senior management went unanswered.
