Oct 27, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. About 600 workers at Thunder Bay's Abitibi Bowater pulp mill will be temporarily laid off as the employer prepares for a scheduled two-week shutdown, The Source reported. The company announced that its two-week shutdown would begin November 9. Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union’s national representative Marvin Pupeza said he hopes the employer does not extend that shutdown. 'It’s pretty definite, the way it was conveyed to me, that it was only for a two-week period,' Pupeza said. 'It’s not like it’s indefinite. But again, who knows what could happen over the next two-week period.' Pupeza said this is the first time in a while where the entire mill is shutdown, rather than sporadic layoffs. Abitibi Bowater spokesman Jean Philippe Cote said the shutdown is necessary because the company’s supplies have swelled as product demand has softened. Cote said the company 'absolutely' expects that the two weeks will be sufficient enough time, and that an extension will probably not be necessary. Pupeza said the union might not have seen the layoff announcement coming, but is aware of the market’s volatile conditions.