Genesis Alkali facility in Sweetwater County (Photo by Kenny-electric)

ROCK SPRINGS (WNE)  — Genesis Alkali, a leading global producer of natural soda, confirmed to the Rocket Miner on Tuesday, Nov. 5, that it has spoken to union representatives about a reduction in force.

“We don’t take these reductions lightly,” said Dave Caplan, director of Genesis Alkali. “It’s challenging and difficult.”

He explained it is a 30-day process, and the company wants to be sensitive to its employees.

“Unfortunately, the market we’re in is very tough, and it’s having a big impact. We felt we had to take this action due to the weakness of the soda ash market,” he added.

Caplan pointed out the business goes through cycles, and he hopes Genesis Alkali will become stronger and more resilient again soon.

“Word travels fast, unsurprisingly, in this small community and we’re a large company. This morning, we heard TATA Chemicals was hiring, but that window closed at noon today,” Caplan said. “It’s not a matter of if it will happen; it’s a matter of when it will happen.”

A RIF is a permanent decrease in the number of a company’s employees, done usually as a cost-saving measure.

Companies may use RIFs for a variety of reasons, including economic downturns, company restructuring, lack of work, and downsizing. RIFs can involve layoffs, furloughs, or terminations. They are different from layoffs, which are usually temporary, while RIFs are permanent.