ALMOST three hundred jobs are at risk at chemical manufacturing company Dow.
The firm has confirmed to Unite that it is closing down the Basics area of its plant in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.
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 is an American multinational corporation that has 214 manufacturing sites in 37 countries. In 2021, it was among the three largest chemical producers in the world. However, it says cheap competition from China is behind the closure, as its Basics product are no longer competitive on the open market with China undercutting prices.
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.”
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.
Dow has around 850 employees at its Barry site, meaning job losses would affect a third of its workforce.
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.”
