Ameripol Synpol to lay off 90 at Texas SBR plant

PORT NECHES, Texas (May 30)—Ameripol Synpol Corp. has begun laying off employees at its Port Neches emulsion SBR plant as part of its plan to idle production there. The company said 90 employees—13 salaried and 77 hourly workers—will be laid off May 31. Ameripol Synpol has filed Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notices, but said it is still unclear whether the affected employees would be paid for 60 days. The company announced May 20 it would idle the facility in light of its ongoing financial difficulties. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2002. Edwin H. Schmidt Jr., vice president and general manager, said the firm continues to discuss the sale of the business to potential buyers.