OLD TOWN, Maine (AP) – Union representatives have begun negotiating a labor agreement with the potential buyers of the shuttered Georgia-Pacific paper mill in Old Town, officials said.

The state announced earlier this month that a three-party agreement has been made with potential buyers, but the companies’ names are not being released.

Gov. John Baldacci, who briefed former workers Tuesday at the Union Hall, said union representatives are scheduled to meet with the potential buyers for three days this week to try and reach a labor agreement.

“It’s an important week,” Baldacci said.

More than 400 workers were left without jobs after GP announced on March 15 that the mill would close unless a buyer came forward. Four wood chip mills in Costigan, Milo, Portage and Houlton that supplied the mill also were closed.

The governor said Tuesday’s meeting with workers at the Union Hall went well. “They realize what’s going on, what’s at stake, and the opportunity to really turn this thing into something that will be a showcase,” Baldacci said.

Baldacci was joined by State Economic Development Commissioner Jack Cashman; Bill Osborne of the Department of Economic and Community Development; Ralph Webber, former GP manager of energy and capital projects; and Bert Martin, Fraser Paper chief operating officer.

Dan Bird, vice president of the Local 80 papermakers union, said the former workers are eager for information about the mill’s prospects.

Although the laid-off workers are looking for new jobs, they’re finding it difficult, Bird said. Most of them began working at the mill after high school. The average age of the workers is 51, he said.

Another problem is that potential employers are leery of hiring the former GP workers because they could be recalled to the mill, he said. “That’s a real problem with people finding work here in the short-term,” he said.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

AP-ES-09-20-06 1213EDT