logo
Almost 300 jobs at risk at chemicals factory in Barry

Almost 300 jobs at risk at chemicals factory in Barry

ITV News29-04-2025

Hundreds of jobs are at risk at a chemical giant's Welsh factory.
US company Dow has confirmed to the union Unite that it is closing down an area of its plant in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.
Unite say that almost 300 jobs are at risk due to this closure.
The company, which produces a wide range of silicon products, has operated from the Barry site since 1971 when it bought the site from Midland Silicones, and now employs 850 people on a 160-acre site.
A statement from Dow confirmed that the shutdown of basic siloxanes operations at Barry has been identified as a "potential outcome". It added that this would affect 291 employees at the Barry site over the next three to four years.
Unite are calling on Dow to "reconsider its decision" and protect as many jobs as possible.
The announcement comes as Dow assess its European assets in a bid to make savings.
A consultation on redundancies is now underway but no job losses are expected until 2026.
Dow, which has more than 200 manufacturing sites across the world, was among the three largest chemical producers in the world in 2021. However, it says cheap competition from abroad is behind the closure, as its basics product are no longer competitive on the open market.
The announcement comes after Dow confirmed potential job cuts on January 31.
A spokesperson for Dow said: "As part of Dow's assessment of its European assets, the company has identified the basics siloxanes operations at Barry, U.K. among other upstream portions of Dow's portfolio that will require further action. The potential outcome identified at this time for Dow's basics siloxanes operations at Barry is a shutdown.
"The potential outcome to close basics siloxanes operations in Barry would be likely to affect 291 employees at the Barry Site, over the next 3-4 years. Siloxanes production is one of several manufacturing facilities and operations at our Barry site, which in total employs approximately 850 employees and contractors.
"This potential shutdown would help strengthen the Company's competitive position in the specialty silicones market in Europe and the U.K. The production of specialty silicones in Barry will continue, supporting key markets such as automotive, electronics, energy, construction, and personal care."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is outrageous that valued workers are being punished for a situation not of their control. The potential loss of so many well-paid jobs in the area will be devastating, not just to our members and their families, but to the local economy as well."
Unite regional officer Richard Jackson said: "Unite is calling on Dow to reconsider its decision and work with us, government and other stake holders to find an alternative solution to this closure. Unite is also calling on Dow to work with the union in order to avoid compulsory redundancies and to seek to protect as many jobs as possible. The union will ensure it is involved all the way throughout this process."
Operations at the Barry site first started in 1941, then under the ownership of the Ocean Salts company. Ownership of the site has changed a number of times over the years, with the site becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, now Dow Inc, in 2016.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Land value tax in Wales could replace council tax and rates
Land value tax in Wales could replace council tax and rates

Western Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Western Telegraph

Land value tax in Wales could replace council tax and rates

The former first minister said the Welsh Government continues to explore the feasibility of LVT as used in countries such as Denmark and Singapore. Professor Drakeford has long supported a LVT, arguing those who have the privilege of ownership should pay something back for that privilege. LVT is levied on the value of the land rather than the property itself. Proponents argue LVT is easier to collect, more efficient and difficult to avoid, while discouraging speculation and encouraging people to bring idle land back into use. Professor Drakeford told the Senedd: "I am anxious to see this discussion move beyond the theoretical and into the realms of the practically possible. He explained that the Welsh Government has invited tenders to test approaches to valuing land, with submissions for every aspect of the work. The finance secretary said: "I want to use the coming months to test the boundaries of what might be possible in the next Senedd term. "Let's open the door to more radical, fundamental and progressive reform in the future." He added: "The current system is unfairly weighted against those who experience difficulty in paying. "I want to shift the focus from harmful escalation towards supportive prevention." He stated ministers will introduce a new council tax appeals process by April 2026 that will be "easier to navigate and provide a better, modern system for taxpayers". Peter Fox agreed that council tax is regressive by nature "and that it will never really become a fair local tax". Mr Fox accused the Welsh Government of increasing tax on families "by stealth" through underfunding councils which, in turn, pass on the shortfall to people. He called for reform of the "outdated and flawed" funding formula. Professor Drakeford replied: "Almost every local authority in Wales will agree that the formula needs revision – nobody can agree on how that should be done. "The 22 local authorities each believe that the formula uniquely disadvantages them."

Portrait of the week: Spending review, LA protests and Greta Thunberg deported
Portrait of the week: Spending review, LA protests and Greta Thunberg deported

Spectator

timean hour ago

  • Spectator

Portrait of the week: Spending review, LA protests and Greta Thunberg deported

Home Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, was the last minister to agree funding in the government spending review. Once the NHS and defence were settled there wasn't enough to go round. The police wanted more. Everyone over the state pension age in England and Wales with an income of £35,000 or less will receive the winter fuel payment after all, at a cost of £1.25 billion, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced. Capital spending included £39 billion on social housing over the next ten years. The government also committed £14.2 billion for the new Sizewell C nuclear power station, but did not say where the money was coming from. Rolls-Royce was selected as the preferred bidder to build the country's first small modular reactors. Unemployment rose to 4.6 per cent, its highest level since 2021, up from 4.5 per cent. Any child in England whose parents receive Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals from September 2026, adding 500,000 to the scheme. Teachers in England can use artificial intelligence to mark homework, under government guidance. The NHS said that a blood shortage required an increase of donors from 800,000 to a million. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, announced sanctions against two Israeli ministers over comments which 'incited extremist violence', banning them from entering Britain. Zia Yusuf resigned as the chairman of Reform UK. He had criticised Sarah Pochin, the party's new MP, for urging Sir Keir Starmer to back a burqa ban, saying: 'I do think it's dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do.' Two days later he returned to the party in a role with the so-called Doge UK team, seeking savings in council spending. Labour won the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election for the Scottish parliament with 8,559 votes, ahead of the SNP's 7,957 and Reform's 7,088. There was rioting in Ballymena after an alleged sexual assault by two teenage Romanian-speaking boys. An audit commissioned by the secretary general of Unite found that there had been a 'pervasive fraud environment' in the union, which spent £112 million on building a hotel in Birmingham, losing £53.8 million. Last week Unite members voted to continue the dustmen's strike in Birmingham, which began on 11 March. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, agreed with US warnings against a new Chinese embassy at the former Royal Mint site on Tower Hill, fearing espionage. Marks and Spencer began taking online orders for home delivery again, six weeks after a cyber attack. Peter Easterby, the only racehorse trainer to have sent out more than 1,000 winners both over jumps and on the flat, died aged 95. Novelist Frederick Forsyth died aged 86. Abroad About 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed in Los Angeles by the federal government, against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsom of California, to confront violent protests against the migrant deportation policy of President Donald Trump. A curfew was imposed and 700 Marines and 2,000 more National Guard were sent in. Mr Trump said he was 'disappointed' that Elon Musk had called his 'big, beautiful' budget bill a 'disgusting abomination'; Mr Musk complained of the President's 'ingratitude', declaring: 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election.' He then tweeted: 'Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files.' He later deleted it. Mr Trump signed a proclamation banning entry for people from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen; a partial ban extended to Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Russia launched an attack with cruise missiles and hundreds of drones on Kyiv and other places in Ukraine; the next night Karkhiv was the target; on another night Kyiv and Odessa. Russia and Ukraine exchanged sick and badly wounded prisoners of war, those aged under 25, and bodies of 12,000 soldiers. Russia's mercenary group Wagner announced it was withdrawing from Mali after four years. A 75ft statue of Lenin in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, was quietly taken down. Eleven were killed in a shooting at a secondary school in the city of Graz in Austria, including the suspect. A yacht carrying Greta Thunberg and 11 others trying to bring aid to Gaza was towed to the port of Ashdod, after being seized by Israel, and she was put on a plane to Paris. CSH

Nigel Farage and the thousands funding Reform UK's campaigns
Nigel Farage and the thousands funding Reform UK's campaigns

South Wales Argus

timean hour ago

  • South Wales Argus

Nigel Farage and the thousands funding Reform UK's campaigns

The big donors included Bassim Haidar, the Nigerian-born Lebanese entrepreneur who gave the Tories more than £670,000 under Rishi Sunak, was there, as was Arron Banks, the former UKIP donor who spent millions campaigning to leave the European Union. Farage was given a rousing introduction by Oswald's owner, clubland impresario Robin Birley, who donated £25,000 to Reform a few weeks before the general election. Reform reportedly took in more than £1m that night at Oswald's in an event that was part of a wider strategy of attracting big money. 'Reform is where the money is going now,' says former Conservative donor Mohamed Amersi, having paid £25,000 to attend the Oswald's fundraiser. Using millionaire money England to fight the Welsh Senedd election, using English-developed policies and with an English MP as its current leader and main campaigner in Wales. A long way from being the man of the working classes. Andrew Nutt, Bargoed

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store