15 September 2015, 00:39 GMT
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The chemical company DuPont will cut a quarter of its positions in Delaware in an attempt to achieve $700 million in cost savings amid a merger with Dow Chemical, the company’s CEO Edward Breen said in a note to employees on Tuesday.
"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," Breen stated.
He noted the effect of the job cuts in Delaware will be "significant."
Delaware Governor Jack Markell called the news of layoffs deeply disappointing.
"For those affected by today’s announcement, they should know that the state will do all that it can in the coming months to assist them as they evaluate new opportunities," Markell said.
DuPont has about 60,000 employees worldwide and more than 6,000 jobs in its home state of Delaware.
The company’s restructuring program is expected to affect about 10 percent of its global workforce, according to media reports.
