<b>Abitibi Not Willing to Sell Mill</b>

Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. says it will not consider selling a paper mill in northeastern Ontario - which it may consider closing - to the union representing its 450 workers. "The mill at Iroquois Falls is not for sale," spokesman Denis Leclerc said earlier this week.

However, a spokesman for the company said it will keep the mill open if it receives concessions from the union operating the mill.

The company said that one of the two machines at the mill in Iroquois Falls is a candidate to be closed unless Abitibi can reduce its operating costs.

On Monday, the workers' union proposed to buy and operate the papermaking machine the company is threatening to shut down.

The workers at the mill have been told by the company that unless they accept cost-cutting concessions, the mill's No. 1 paper machine will be closed and more than 200 workers will lose their jobs. Canadian Press/Montreal Gazette