People of Millinocket, and employees of the Great Northern Paper Company, and all those listening from around the State of Maine,

Times are tough; times are hard. The future definitely doesn’t look like some Maine Christmas card. This is the time for us to step up to the plate and to witness Union workers band together. This is the time for the town, and the communities to rally behind these employees, and encourage these people not to be victims any more to corporate raiders and the worst kind of greed. Homes, families, individuals, and entire communities have been left reeling in the wake of what could be called “Enron North.” This is the call for the employees of this company to be truly unified, and make the effort to fight for, and purchase these mills, so that labor can win this deserved Victory.

Sure, its true, opportunity has been snatched away in the past, but when I talk to people here they don’t seem to me to be a people who are easily defeated. Let’s show the world that the Katahdin Region, the town of Millinocket, the surrounding communities, and the people who call this place their home, are a people who will strive for what they know is right. Just over one year ago we banded together for the wonderful one hundred year celebration of the Magic City of Millinocket, Maine. What once was the per capita most prosperous town on the Eastern Seaboard is now in the “less than ideal situation” of receiving aide from places both near and far. There has never been before and there may never be a better time for the working man of this state, and this community to stand up and fight for the lifestyle of full employment that was once the success story this place worthy of note.

Mill workers, administration, and executives alike now is the time to draw the line in the dirt and say this mill is our mill. People have died here, and many others have given their life blood to the dream once known as The Great Northern Paper Company. It isn’t too late. We do not have to allow this heritage to be swept downstream. Keep the profits here, form an employee buyout. It isn’t too late. Workers, come out of the buildings, your homes, the places The Great Northern loaned its equipment for, and helped you to build; meet with your fellow worker, and your union representatives. … Assistance, both financial and organizational can be on hand as soon as we collectively say, “lets’Go.” Don’t let someone steal that dream. Don’t let them lie to you, and say that it’s too late. (I haven’t heard any fat lady singing, yet.)

The wisest woman I have ever known once whispered in my ear, and the words have never been far from my heart. “You’ll never hit that ball if you don’t Get Up, Stand at that Plate, and Swing with Everything You’ve have.” Furthermore, I believe it was the brave, revolutionary naval hero, John Paul Jones who’s rally cry at the at the birth of the great nation was, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Let this be the roar heard from the people of the Katahdin Region, and union workers from the Great State of Maine. Let us begin now, and endeavor to make these mills the locally owned entities that they once where and forever should be. Dedicate this effort to every person who has died working for dream known as The Great Northern Paper Company. Now is the time to give every extra energy you can spare to see that these mills are eventually obtained by those who should rightfully own and operate them, so that they are not stolen and robbed from their assets ever again.

Sincerely, Joe Nugent III
723-9800