SAGINAW -- Officials from Hemlock Semiconductor group say they will permanently cut 100 employees from the payroll at their Thomas Township site and another 300 at a satellite site in Tennessee.
The intial announcement about the layoffs was made in January.
Spokespeople for the company say oversupply in the poly-silicon industry, and the threat of potential tariffs on hemlock products sold in China, forced them to make the cuts.
We talked to an employee of Hemlock Semiconducter who says they're relying on each other to get through the tough times.
"You get a lot of community everyone tries to help each other out you know we are all worried and we all try to stick together anyway,” says employee Stephen Somers.
Workers affected by the cuts are being offered a severance package that includes access to health benefits and job-placement services.
***UPDATE***
A spokesman for the company provided a statement that said, "In the January announcement, Hemlock Semiconductor announced that 'Should market conditions persist, these layoffs could become permanent.'
Unfortunately, Hemlock Semiconductor does not have additional clarity or resolution to the international trade disputes. As a result, those previously laid off were notified that they will be permanently separated from the company."
*** END UPDATE ***
