KAMLOOPS — The parent company of Wilkinson Steel on the Tk’emlups Reserve has confirmed the plant has permanently closed.
Wilkinson has been operating in Kamloops since the 1960s.
Ontario-based Samuel, Son and Company acquired the local Wilkinson distribution branch in 2013, along with several other branches in Western Canada.
Spokesperson Denny Allen says the Tk’emlups plant hasn’t been economically viable for years, and yesterday (February 28) was its last day of operation, coinciding with the end of its lease.
Allen says the eight local employees were offered relocation packages in November, and while two salaried employees took advantage of the offer, six hourly-wage workers stayed.
Those workers lost their jobs with the plant’s closure.
“At the end of the day, it’s always unfortunate when people lose their jobs, but you just have to look at that situation,” said Allen.
“If it’s been losing money for decades, it’s time to move on. It was the end of the lease, so it’s just a logical time to do this.”
Allen also disputed a suggestion in local media that the decision to close the plant was due dissention with its unionized workforce.
She says Samuel has hundreds of facilities throughout North America, and she called the suggestion “utter jibberish.”
