FERNDALE, Wash. – Alcoa has started laying off Intalco workers sooner than expected.
The company announced in April that market conditions were forcing it to close the Ferndale smelter for good.
Politicians, union leaders and others have pleaded with it to try to save the plant’s 700 jobs.
But the Seattle Times reports 65 workers were let go last week and up to 400 layoffs are expected by June 21st.
Alcoa, which lost $24 million in the first quarter of the year, says it will have a workforce of just 25 to 30 at the plant by August.