Why It Matters
WE Soda plans to reduce its Wyoming workforce by 350 positions while changing how it extracts soda ash at the Westvaco operation. The company said the move responds to low-cost Chinese exports affecting American soda ash prices in export markets.
What Happened
WE Soda will convert its Westvaco underground mining operation to in-situ solution recovery, a drill-and-pump process that requires fewer workers. The transition is scheduled to unfold progressively over approximately two years, with layoffs beginning in January.
The company’s Wyoming workforce is expected to decline from approximately 850 employees to 500 during the transition. WE Soda said the change will also reduce soda ash production by more than 1.5 million metric tons annually, along with export sales that are no longer commercially viable.
Alasdair Warren, CEO of WE Soda, said the southwest Wyoming trona and soda ash industry is under pressure from Chinese soda ash and described the company’s response in terms of “efficiencies.” A United Steelworkers Local 13214 representative said workers were “blindsided” and vowed to protect as many jobs as possible.
By the Numbers
350 — job cuts planned
January — month layoffs will begin
Approximately two years — duration of the transition and job reductions
Approximately 850 workers — current Wyoming workforce
500 — projected Wyoming workforce after the transition
More than 1.5 million metric tons annually — projected reduction in soda ash output
Zoom Out
WE Soda’s announcement places Wyoming’s soda ash industry within a market dispute involving lower-cost Chinese exports and pricing for American producers in overseas markets. The company linked the operational change and reduced export activity to those market conditions.
What’s Next
Layoffs are scheduled to begin in January, while WE Soda progressively converts the Westvaco operation over approximately two years. United Steelworkers Local 13214 will seek to protect as many jobs as possible during the transition.