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DuPont Announces It Will Eliminate Around 1,700 Delaware-Based Jobs

WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) -- The ax is falling at DuPont, which will cut a quarter of the chemical company's jobs in Delaware.

In a note to employees, CEO Ed Breen writes, "Especially given that we are in the middle of the holidays, we would have preferred to wait until individual notifications were complete before reporting the full local impact. However, by December 31, we are legally required to file a notice with the Delaware State government detailing the expected local job reductions, and I wanted you to hear the difficult news—directly from me—that approximately 1,700 Delaware-based positions will be eliminated in the beginning of the year."

The move is part of a $700 million cost reduction.

"I am deeply aware that these decisions affect the lives - and families - of many people. As we work through these notifications, we are committed to doing so in a way that is consistent with our Core Values. We will honor each colleague's service to the company by providing separation packages, career placement services and training allowances as part of our effort to help our team members through these transitions."

Some workers have already been told, but others are still in the dark about whether they'll have a job in the New Year.

Delaware Governor Jack Markell released a statement, calling the layoff announcement "deeply disappointing."

Earlier this month, DuPont and Dow Chemical announced they are merging in a $130 billion chemical industry megadeal.

U.S. Senator Chris Coons released a statement of his own following DuPont's announcement:

'This is a devastating day for the state of Delaware, and my prayers are with the thousands of families who received this incredibly difficult news today. These families are our neighbors and our friends, and this news is nothing short of heartbreaking.

"As everyone in Delaware knows, DuPont has been a central part of our state's identity for generations. DuPont has been more than just a source of jobs. It has also been a source of pride and a symbol of Delaware's unique history of innovation and public service.

"Many Delawareans, including me, have feared that a day like this would come, and now, more than ever, we need to work together to ensure the families impacted by this decision have our support and that we're doing everything we can to put Delawareans back to work.

"As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I plan to scrutinize the proposed merger between DuPont and Dow extremely closely. I am committed to doing everything possible to help the families impacted by this decision, fight for DuPont pensioners, and ensure that Delaware is in the best possible position to remain the home of DuPont and Dow jobs for years to come. My office is already engaged in these efforts, and is available to assist those in need. I know that despite this news, Delaware has a world-class workforce, whose skills and education rival any in our country, and I know that we can overcome these difficult new challenges.'

There was one bright spot -- Breen said the post-merger Specialty Products business will remain in Wilmington, where the company was founded 213 years ago.

 

KYW Newsradio's Molly Daly contributed to this report. 

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