Workers at Pa. refinery get layoff notices

Workers at Pa. refinery get layoff notices

TRAINER, Pa. (AP) — The first of hundreds of employees have been laid off from a Philadelphia-area oil refinery that hasn’t found a buyer after four months on the market.

ConocoPhillips laid off two shifts of workers at its Trainer, Delaware County, facility on Thursday. The remainder of the 385-employee workforce is expected to be laid off today.

Workers approved a severance package last week that will shutter the refinery while ConocoPhillips seeks a buyer.

The Delaware County Daily Times reports workers are receiving a week of pay for every year of service, up to 16 years.

Two other nearby refineries also face an uncertain future. Sunoco has already idled a refinery in Marcus Hook and says it may have to close its Philadelphia refinery in June if a new owner isn’t found.