Almost 300 jobs at risk at chemicals factory in Barry
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.
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