WE Soda to cut 40% of Sweetwater County staff

Residents of Sweetwater County face immediate financial pressure as WE Soda prepares to reduce its local workforce by 40 percent. The announcement cuts 350 jobs from the company's operations in the region. Many of the affected workers depend on their employment for both income and medical coverage.

Three key factors are shaping the local response to the cuts. First, the loss of employer-sponsored health insurance threatens families managing ongoing medical conditions. Second, the reduction in household income may affect how households handle daily expenses and school costs. Third, local officials are coordinating with colleges and the state to help displaced workers find new employment.

Bree McMullan, whose husband works at the mine, highlighted the importance of health benefits. Her family includes an 18-year-old son and a 1-year-old granddaughter who were both born with gastroschisis. The condition requires her son to see doctors and a dietician regularly. Her granddaughter needs blood clot shots twice daily and feeds through a G tube five times a day. The family provides this care at home, including intravenous nutrition delivered through a line connected to her heart.

McMullan said her husband wanted the job specifically for the insurance coverage. She noted that the family is at a critical point where his seniority number determines if he keeps his position. If the job is cut, the family may need to relocate, though McMullan has lived in Sweetwater County for nearly 23 years.

Representative Cody Wylie, a Republican from Rock Springs, stated that the timing of the layoffs is difficult for constituents. He noted that approximately 3 percent of the county's workforce is losing their jobs. Wylie described the impact as a major event for the area. The mayors of Rock Springs and Green River, along with the chairman of the Sweetwater County Commission, issued a joint statement pledging to work with WE Soda and Western Wyoming College. Their goal is to connect affected employees with resources and new job opportunities.

A 24-year-old employee's daughter wrote to WE Soda CEO Alasdair Warren to explain the personal impact of the cuts. Her father has worked at the operation for 20 years. She asked the CEO to consider the human cost behind the numbers. Craig Rood, the director of government affairs for WE Soda, did not confirm by publication if the CEO had received the message. The company has not released a public response to the specific concerns raised by local families.