Responding to the pending closure of the Phillips 66 refinery facilities in Carson and Wilmington next year, the county Board of Supervisors called Tuesday for an action plan to assist displaced workers with job-training and placement services, including possible employment with the county.
Texas-based Phillips 66 announced in October that it plans to close its Los Angeles-area refinery operations next year. The company operates a crude oil processing facility in Carson and a finishing plant in Wilmington. The facilities are linked by a five-mile pipeline.
“This closure will result in the loss of an estimated 600 full-time employee jobs and 300 contractor positions, many of whom are highly skilled workers with specialized expertise in fields,” Supervisor Janice Hahn stated in a motion approved by the board Tuesday.
Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who co-authored the motion, stressed the need for finding long-term equitable career opportunities for workers who lose their jobs.
“We are responsible to ensure that displaced workers can smoothly transition to similar high road jobs … not just by partnering with private sector, but also by opening up doors here at the county,” Mitchell said.
The Department of Economic Opportunity was asked to report back in 60 days with a strategy to assist the workers through job training, job placement resources and opportunities including county positions.
The agency was also instructed to partner with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the city of Los Angeles to expedite hiring and training resources, host job fairs and provide emergency workforce development resources.