Hundreds of jobs set to be lost at Welsh factory
Hundreds of jobs set to be lost at Welsh factory
A consultation on redundancies at a Welsh factory which employs 850 people is now underway
Almost 300 jobs are at risk at a chemical manufacturing site in Barry
(Image: John Myers )
Hundreds of jobs are set to be lost 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 three hundred jobs are at risk due to this closure. The company 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. The closure of part of the plant means that job losses could affect a third of the workforce.
Unite are calling on Dow to "reconsider its decision" and protect as many jobs as possible. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
In February, the firm confirmed it was "assessing alternative siloxanes supply options" at the site. Basic chemicals are used internally by Dow as raw materials and are also sold worldwide in areas such as the food industry, paints and coatings and dry cleaning products.
Dow's Barry site employs 850 people
(Image: John Myers )
A consultation on redundancies is now underway but it is expected that the closure will be long and protracted with no dismissals expected until mid-2026.
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Dow, which has over 200 manufacturing sites across the globe, 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 with China undercutting prices.
The announcement from the union comes after Dow confirmed potential job cuts on January 31.
The company issued a statement which said they needed to make $1 billion in cost savings, in response to uncertainty in the wider economy. Dow were expected to achieve this through a $500 million to $700 million reduction in direct costs, primarily focused on purchased services and third-party contract labour; and decreased labour costs, including through a workforce reduction of approximately 1,500 Dow roles globally.
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."
Dow have been contacted for a statement.
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