Less than two years ago, in June 2014, good ol' Chip Miller and the other Baroid boys cut the ribbon at the official opening of the $26 million dollar barite grinding plant, told to be the largest facility of its kind in the world. Nevada barite reserves were being mined and jigged at the Rossi mine 30 miles from the plant, and with this strategic position, dozens of young employees in their teens and early 20s, were told that, if they desired to, they would have an operation that they could retire from at the end of their working lives.
The first layoffs came about a year ago. Over the summer and fall, employees voluntarily left the jig and mill for better paying entry level jobs in the area gold mines. A few more were let go in October 15, mostly from the Rossi. Another Dunphy mill employee list her job in February.
On April 5, all hourly employees were told that they no longer had a job. Both the Dunphy mill and Rossi jig plant had their doors closed. Employees got what seems to be the norm -- two weeks in lieu of notice, and then a firm kick out the door.
Managers kept their jobs...to manage a non-producing facility? Good for them!
Meanwhile, all the terminated employees get put back into the pool of job seekers. And the management, in their compassion and consideration, made sure that this happened with employees' required annual MSHA training expiring in 10 days! "We're sorry guys. Thanks for your service! Good luck finding a job without current certification!"