SILSBEE — A Hardin County refinery laid off about 20% of its workforce on Thursday morning.
The layoffs affected close to 50 employees at South Hampton Resources on FM 418 just west of FM 1122 according to a company spokesperson.
Trecora Resources, the owner of the refinery, announced the "employee reorganization" Thursday in a news release.
The reorganization will also result in a $400,000 charge for the company in the fourth quarter of 2018 the release said. They say the layoffs will save the company 2.5 million dollars annually.
The Silsbee facility produces isopentane, pentane, cyclopentane, petroleum ether, isohexane and hexane according to its website.
South Hampton Resources has been operating since 1955 according to the facility's website.
Aaron Gore of Silsbee feels the pain of the now former employees affected. He said he's also a refinery worker, and know's how hard it can be to find and keep a decent paying job in Silsbee.
"I mean 50 people getting laid off, that's ridiculous, that's people's bread and butter, you know, and the only thing left is traveling to Port Arthur," said Gore.
Gore went on to say that the holidays can be hard enough without the added stress of searching for a job. He hopes those affected get back on their feet soon, and can still give their families a good Christmas.