Institute , Kanawha County , West Virginia

Bad news for the Kanawha Valley chemical industry. Bayer CropScience says they are permanently ceasing all operations at several production units at the Institute.

The company issued a "WARN" notice Monday.

The first phase of terminations will begin on September 7th and will continue throughout 2012. The decision comes as a result of the company's previous announcement that it will cease production of MIC in Institute. That affects the production of Aldicarb, which is an active substance in the pesticide Temik.

The majority of affected employees are represented by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, AFL-CIO District Lodge 54 and Local Lodge 598.

“We understand the uncertainty and difficulty the employment reduction will cause those affected,” said Steve Hedrick, Vice President and Head of the Institute Industrial Park. “We intend to approach this action in an equitable and sensitive manner, ensuring timely and transparent communication with all of our employees.”

The Institute Industrial Park employs approximately 700 people, including site tenants and contractors. Of the 700, approximately 300 are Bayer CropScience employees. By the end of the year, Bayer employees are expected to number approximately 200.

“As always, safety remains our foremost priority, especially during a transition time such as this,” Hedrick said. “We intend to preserve the jobs of those employees with the critical operating skills needed to ensure continued safe production at the site.”


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The following is the complete Bayer CropScience statement about the layoffs and the company's plans for the Institute site.

BAYER STATEMENT

Reductions at Institute Industrial Park

As previously announced, Bayer CropScience will be reducing employment at the Institute Industrial Park due to the curtailment of some production at the facility.

To meet employee notification requirements of the impending reductions, Bayer today provided a 60-day notice of the layoffs to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the union representing employees at the Industrial Park, along with the names of the individual employees potentially affected. The company also has informed employees not represented by the union, as well as appropriate county officials, of the reductions.

The exact number of individuals who will be involuntarily dismissed is not known at this time. A voluntary lay-off incentive program currently being offered, as well as usual attrition, is expected to account for some of the reduction.

“We understand the uncertainty and difficulty the employment reduction will cause those affected,” said Steve Hedrick, Vice President and Head of the Institute Industrial Park. “We intend to approach this action in an equitable and sensitive manner, ensuring timely and transparent communication with all of our employees.”

The Institute Industrial Park employs approximately 700 people, including site tenants and contractors. Of the 700, approximately 300 are Bayer CropScience employees. By the end of the year, Bayer employees are expected to number approximately 200.

“As always, safety remains our foremost priority, especially during a transition time such as this,” Hedrick said. “We intend to preserve the jobs of those employees with the critical operating skills needed to ensure continued safe production at the site.”

Hedrick noted also that the reductions are aligned with the site’s on-going objectives of ensuring a competitive business case for the Institute Industrial Park and delivering efficiency enhancements to help attract external investment. ”We continue to actively seek new tenants for the Institute Industrial Park, which has the location, infrastructure and skilled employees necessary to meet the needs of companies in various industries looking for the right location to establish successful operations,” he said.

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