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From bandages to food preservatives Founded in 1971, Union Carbide is the one of the country's leading manufacturers of chemicals, plastics, industrial gases, and polymers. Its products are used in everything from pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chewing gum to floor coverings, bandages, and food preservatives. Union Carbide is also the world's largest producer of ethylene oxide, a key component of polyester and antifreeze. The company's international projects include a new joint venture with France's Elf Acquitaine to produce chemicals and the construction of a major petrochemical plant in Kuwait. The Union Carbide toll: 3,000 dead, 50,000 disfigured Union Carbide enjoyed decades of quiet, steady worldwide expansion until December 1984, when a Union Carbide pesticide tank in Bhopal, India ruptured and released five tons of poisonous gas. The leak, the world's worst industrial accident, killed 3,000 and permanently injured 50,000. Union Carbide ultimately agreed to a $470 million settlement indemnifying the company from any future lawsuits. It insists, however, that the Indian Government bears part of the blame because the government failed to properly regulate the company. India has since nationalized Union Carbide's Indian operations and indicted several top Union Carbide officials, including former CEO Warren Anderson, for "culpable homicide." Thought the accident was now 16 years ago, a tragedy like that is not easily forgotten. The residents of Bhopal still live with toxic groundwater around the factory, and vicitm's groups filed suits against the company. Back in 1986 the Indian Supreme Court reinstated criminal charges against Warren Anderson, who is now in hiding. Anderson has eluded government and Interpol agents, as well as New York's finest private investigators. One word: plastics Today, Union Carbide continues as the world's largest maker of two types of chemicals neccessary for polyester fibers and antifreeze. Its specialty and intermediary chemical division is also an industry leader in chemicals used to make plastic bags and bottles. The company also develops new chemicals and technologies, largely through partnerships with companies such as Exxon. Asia sinks, Union Carbide pays In 1998, Union Carbide saw earnings fall, largely as a result of shaky Asian markets. Its fourth-quarter 1998 earnings fell below expectations because of weak chemical markets in the Far East, especially those for specialty polymers. However, the firm shouldered some unique burdens in 1998. Renovating and restarting a plant in Louisiana cost an extra $24 million. A $6 million shutdown at a Kuwait chemical plant also hurt earnings. In 1999, however, the company is banking on a new petrochemical plant in Malaysia and a continuing, multi-year, cost-cutting program to impove performance. In August of 1999 Union Carbide agreed to a merger with Dow Chemical in an $9.3 billion transaction. The combination would create the world's second-largest chemical business, behind DuPont. As part of the agreement Dow assumed $2.3 billion of Union Carbide net debt. The merger, though expected to be approved, has hit its share of snags along the way. First, the European Union had reservations about the merger, but after being appeased by the companies' divestments earlier in 2000, the EU gave its blessing to the two companies. Just as the deal was about to be sealed, the FTC and the Canadian Competition Bureau stepped in and requested additional information, pushing the completion date back to some time during the third quarter, 2000.
Union Carbide's home Web page, www.unioncarbide.com, offers a link to a list of current openings. Typical positions open to new hires include Automatic Engineer, Operations Improvement Engineer, Production Engineer, Workstation Technician, Chemical Engineer, and Analyst. The site also describes the different requirements for each of the operating divisions. Union Carbide administers a "Student Employment Program" that hires students and trains them for the prospect of full-time work with Union Carbide after graduation.
Recent hires at Union Carbide praise the company's "supportive atmosphere," including "on-the-job training that is second to none." The "first-rate" exercise facilities and "extensive" profit-sharing plan also earn high marks. While some complain that Union Carbide has been slow to adapt to the "changing needs of workers - especially in the area of child care," employees praise the "global challenges" that their jobs offer them. They also appreciate the company's "vast experience and expertise" in international business.
Human Resources
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