BUCKSPORT, Maine - A union representing some of the workers at the Verso Paper mill in Bucksport has filed a federal lawsuit that aims to block the sale of the mill to a scrap-metal company.
The Bucksport chapter of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers has filed a complaint seeking an injunction that would temporarily prevent Verso from selling the 84-year-old mill to AIM Development, based in Montreal, and require Verso to market the mill for sale to a bona fide buyer willing to continue to operate it as a paper mill.
Verso announced a week ago that it was selling the Bucksport mill, and its attached power plant, to the company, which is a subsidiary of a metal salvage and recycling company.
AIM isn't saying what it plans to do with the mill, but there's widespread speculation that the company will dismantle it for scrap and redevelop the site for other uses.
The union is also seeking to force Verso to pay severance and vacation time owed to employees of the Bucksport facility by Jan. 8.
About 500 people work at the facility, which is scheduled to be shut down at the end of the month.