PotashCorp has confirmed that it has sent temporary layoff notices to some 940 potash workers at the Lanigan, Rocanville, and Allan mines in Saskatchewan. The layoff period is to span from Jan. 18 to March 14, 2009.
“We have given temporary (8 week) layoff notices to all hourly employees at three of our mines which total approximately 940 people,” Bill Johnson, PotashCorp spokesman, told Green Markets. “Not all of those people who received notices will be off work for the whole period of time.”
The layoffs follow earlier announcements by PotashCorp that it planned to cut potash production by some 2 million mt in 2009 (GM Dec. 15, p. 1), as well as another announcement in which the company announced reduced earnings guidance (GM Dec. 22, p. 1).