<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3hA66D_1GoCxZha00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3hA66D_1GoCxZha00" width="1200" height="630" ><figcaption>WE Soda photo</figcaption></figure>ROCK SPRINGS — “We’ve been told for the last year we’re going to keep the legacy mining process going as we increase capacity with solution mining,” Marshal Cummings, the president of the United Steel Workers Local 13214 said Thursday. Cummings spoke with TRN Media’s Al Harris Thursday morning, saying he found out about the layoffs about an hour and half before the news became public knowledge. He expected a reduction of force by approximately 40 positions.Cummings said he was invited to a meeting with the company’s CEO, Alasdair Warren, saying he came into the meeting expecting “not friendly news,” but didn’t expect the severity of the company’s decisions. He said a warning sign that something would happen came when We Soda’s management stopped communicating with mine workers.Cummings is angry with the company, saying it never disclosed ending its traditional mining operations. He said the initial plan was adding Project West’s solution mining to what was produced from the underground mine. “We seen models that this was sustainable for decades to come,” Cummings said.Cummings was also critical of Warren’s handling of the situation, saying it’s easy to deliver news and fly home “across the pond.” We Soda’s global headquarters is in London, UK. Cumming cites a Google search he conducted that shows the company made $201 million off of its U.S. operations.Cummings said taking calls from union members has been heartbreaking and said the union will do what it can for its members. He said the union will do everything it can to keep the legacy mining operation open. He admits it isn’t on We Soda’s agenda, but believes that with help from the governor’s office, Wyoming’s congressional delegation, and other organizations, a way could be found to keep the mine open.Cummins said the union will work to ease the burden the employees are facing. He said they need insurance coverage and assistance feeding their families as they’re looking for other jobs. The earliest date for jobs to end is Jan. 4, 2027.“If there is no other way, which I refuse to believe … that we can’t keep it open, is that we get a buyout so some of these people that are closer to the retirement age can get a little help to leave earlier than they planned and some of these younger folks can stay on board and can still feed their families,” he said.Cummings said the employment agreement has a bumping process that allows more tenured employees some protection from layoffs and can have bargaining discussions with the company, but hasn’t started that process because they don’t know what the new surface process will look like. For now, Cumings wants to try reducing the number of impacted employees.“We’re going to do everything we can to get that number smaller and move forward from there,” Cummings said.</div></body>

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ROCK SPRINGS — “We’ve been told for the last year we’re going to keep the legacy mining process going as we increase capacity with solution mining,” Marshal Cummings, the president of the United Steel Workers Local 13214 said Thursday. Cummings spoke with TRN Media’s Al...

Union Leader Comments on We Soda Situation

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ROCK SPRINGS — “We’ve been told for the last year we’re going to keep the legacy mining process going as we increase capacity with solution mining,” Marsha