About 200 Prineviille mill workers losing jobs

Woodgrain Millwork is the 27th-largest private employer in Central Oregon, with 237 employees.

At least, it was.

On Tuesday, mill officials announced to a room packed with employees that they do not plan to fix damages caused by a recent roof collapse.

“The way the management said that there’s no plans of ever starting back up,” former employee Janet Smith said after the meeting at the Crook County Fairgrounds.

They also were told their health insurance would be ending at midnight — something no one wants to hear. Couples and entire families are employed at the mill.

“I’ve got five kids at home,” said Greg Prewitt.

Here’s the public statement issued by Greg Easton, vice president of the Millwork Division of Woodgrain Millwork:

“On Friday, November 14th around 7:00 AM Pacific, a substantial portion of the roof at the Prineville, OR manufacturing facility collapsed due to heavy rain and snow. We are very thankful no one was injured and all of our associates are safe.

“Unfortunately, the part of the facility where the roof collapsed is integral to the operation of the facility. After analyzing the situation and the available options, the Company has decided to cease many of the operations at the Prineville location for the foreseeable future. A significant portion of the workforce will be affected in the coming weeks.

“Woodgrain Millwork has operations across the US and is offering employment at its other facilities to affected employees, including relocation assistance.

“Woodgrain will continue to be part of the Prineville community and will continue to operate the MDF moulding line and pellet mill that were not affected by the roof collapse.”

The mill, under different names, has been employing people in Prineville since the 1950s.

“Everybody’s in shock,” Smith said.

Many weren’t expecting the message of the meeting. Smith said she thought they might be out of work for a few months.

“I saw a few people in tears,” Smith said.

Managers showed the workers a slide show of the extensive damage. Many said they weren’t expecting it to be as bad as it was — or how close the plant came to serious injuries, or worse that day.

“I just found out from looking at the pictures right now, if it wasn’t for my mom going to the bathroom, she probably would have passed away,” Carmen Ortiz said.

Heavy snow and ice caused the roof to collapse on Friday, Nov. 14. Workers say there were warning signs.

“There was leaking water for many, many years, I guess, according to my parents,” Ortiz said.

Another worker said the day before the roof collapsed, the saw they were working on actually broke because of the leaks. When the roof did fall, it fell on important equipment. Without it, the mill cannot operate.

“Now, a lot of us don’t really know what we’re going to do,” Prewitt said.

Especially with the holidays in the near future.

“It sucks — it sucks big time,” Prewitt said.

Woodgrain Millwork gave the workers a list of other locations they could transfer to, their pay stubs and a gift certificate to Erikson’s.

Five days after the roof collapse, a large piece of ice fell off another portion of the roof at the plant and cut a two-inch natural gas line near the meter, prompting another evacuation of inspectors and others.

In June of last year, Woodgrain Millwork, based in Fruitland, Idaho, announced a $3 million investment to make the Prineville plant state of the art, citing a need to “meet increased demand in the market.” The facility manufactures wood mouldings and door and window components.