RICHARD HALL HAS WORKED AT "SHOREWOOD PACKAGING" IN BROCKVILLE FOR 16 YEARS.

BUT IN JUST TWO WEEKS HE WILL BE JOBLESS.

SHOREWOOD, OWNED BY U.S BASED MULTINATIONAL FIRM "INTERNATIONAL PAPER," ANNOUNCED TUESDAY THAT IT WILL BE CLOSING IT'S DOORS, LEAVING 275 PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED.

 RICHARD HALL, SHOREWOOD EMPLOYEE:

"A LOT OF WORKERS HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. A LOT OF THEM COME RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. SO, FOR A LOT OF THEM IT'S A HARDSHIP BECAUSE THEY'VE REALLY NEVER DONE ANYTHING ELSE. THERE'S NO, YOU KNOW THIS TYPE OF PRINTING IS NOT A RECOGNIZED TRADE IN CANADA.')

THE PLANT MAKES PAPER AND CARDBOARD PACKAGING... MOSTLY CIGARETTE PACKAGES.

AMY SAWYER IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR INTERNATIONAL PAPER.

 AMY SAYWER, SPOKESPERSON, INTERNATIONAL PAPER:

"OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, SHOREWOOD PACKAGING, CANADIAN OPERATIONS, WHICH INCLUDES BROCKVILLE HAS STRUGGLED WITH CHANGING DYNAMICS OF THE TOBACCO AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES. ON TOP OF ADDITIONAL PRESSURE FROM THE ON GOING NEED TO CONTROL COSTS.")

SAWYER SAYS WHEN THREE MAJOR TOBACCO COMPANIES MOVED OUT OF NORTH AMERICA... SHOREWOOD LOST ITS BIGGEST CLIENTS.

SAWYER:

"WE'VE DETERMINED THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO SIGNIFICANTLY REORGANIZE OUR OPERATIONS THERE IN ORDER TO STAY SUCCESSFUL.")

EMPLOYEES SAY THIS FATE WAS NOT UNEXPECTED, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY EASIER.

HALL:

"UNFORTUNATELY IF YOU'RE LIVING IN CANADA, IT'S A BIT INEVITABLE. WE JUST CAN'T COMPETE WITH WHAT OTHER COUNTRIES ARE WILLING TO PAY, AND WHAT OTHER WORKERS ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR.')

GRANT CLARK, PLANT MANAGER:

"OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ALL OF THE TRANSITIONS GOING UP, BUT REALLY WE WE'RE LOOKING AT DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO, AND SEE IF THERE'S DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR US.

IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL IN THE PLANT. WE HAVE HUSBANDS AND WIVES, WE HAVE THE WHOLE BIT WORKING IN THE PLANT, SO A BIG IMPACT.")

 DONNA MATHIEW, EMPLOYEE:

"IT'S A HARD TIME FOR US ALL. WE ALL HAVE TO START OVER.")

DESPITE THE BROCKVILLE CLOSURE, SHOREWOOD'S SMITH'S FALLS PLANT WILL REMAIN OPEN.

GRANT SAYS SOME OF THE LEFT OVER PRODUCTION WILL BE SHIFTED THERE.

IT MEANS AT LEAST A FEW BROCKVILLE EMPLOYEES MAY BE ABLE KEEP THEIR JOB... A HALF-HOUR'S DRIVE AWAY.

BUT FOR THE VAST MAJORITY... THEIR PAPER-PRINTING CAREERS HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE ROAD.

ASHLEY MOLNAR, CKWS NEWSWATCH, BROCKVILLE.