It has been a major development as the first biggest layoff warning call involving a production plant due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The management of the plant declared almost all of its 302 employees would be laid off.
A letter to the employees dated 30th March’20 has been delivered which stated clearly the layoffs might be temporary.
The company also stated: "We are notifying you that in the period between May 24th and June 7th, you will be laid off. Given the unknown duration of this layoff, we are providing you with this notice pursuant to the Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act, should it apply. Bumping rights, if any, will be handled in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement."
The managers of the plant said, “the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic dropped the price of alumina below the cost to produce.”
Almatis, the major customer of the plant, curtailed its orders for the products produced at the Sorrento facility on Hwy. 22 along the Mississippi River.
The plant announced it has a good stock of the sedimentary rock, bauxite, with a high alumina content that’s used as the principal source of aluminium. The plant is in a situation to produce alumina for the next 55-65 days and then the plant will move out for shutdown.
The most essential staffs will only be deployed for duty during the shutdown.
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