Read this article in:
6 April, 2009
Union and community leaders in the UK’s northeast have mounted a campaign to save over 100 jobs at a chemicals plant. UK-based Elementis Plc., the EU’s only producer of chromium chemicals used in superalloy production, timber treatments, and metal finishing, is currently in a 90-day consultation period with ICEM affiliate Unite the Union and workers at a plant in Eaglescliffe, near Teesside.
In February, the specialty chemicals company – the world’s largest producer of chromium chemicals – announced the plant was under “a strategic review” that could lead to a shutdown by July 2009.
Workers and community leaders are petitioning MPs and engaging in other activities to keep the profitable plant operating. Elementis, which also produces surfactants and specialty chemicals for paints, coatings, inks, and cosmetics, saw its chromium chemicals business post an operating profit of £27.7 million in 2008, compared to a £14.2 million profit in 2007. Sales in the division rose to £168.6 million in 2008 from £115.9 million in 2007.
Unite Regional Secretary Bob Bolam stressed that production from the plant was crucial for the EU. “If this plant were to close, the EU would be reliant on Kazakhstan and China. We intend to put together a case for the (Elementis) board to keep this site.”
The company’s other chromium chemicals plants are in the US – Corpus Christi, Texas, and Castle Hayne, North Carolina. Raw materials used by Elementis come from South Africa and other parts of Africa, and are processed at the Eaglescliffe plant before being shipped to US facilities and other locations. The company’s chromium chemicals business produces dichromate, chrome sulphate, chromic acid, chromic oxide, chromide hydrate, and sodium sulphate.
Elementis senior executives have stated that no final decision on closure has been taken. The ICEM supports workers in the Teesside and Wilton area in their buoyant efforts to preserve jobs in this sector.