Morton Salt layoffs affect 77 workers after water enters Ohio mine

Seventy-seven employees at Morton Salt’s Fairport mine in Painesville Township, Ohio, lost their jobs effective October 28, 2026, according to 19 News. The station based its report on the company’s state notice. The layoffs followed a water intrusion that stopped underground mining six days earlier. 19 News, October 28

Morton Salt announced on October 26 that water had entered the mine on October 22. The company said all employees were evacuated safely and nobody was injured. It halted underground operations and notified regulators. Morton Salt announcement

The company said it was working with independent experts and regulators to investigate the water intrusion and decide what comes next. It also said surface activities would be severely limited while the mine was closed.

Neither the company’s announcement nor the October 28 report gives a reopening date. They confirm a halt at this mine, but do not establish that it will never reopen or that Morton Salt is shutting down companywide.

According to 19 News, the notice covers 69 hourly and eight salaried employees. The station reported that Morton Salt said it would provide 60 days of pay instead of advance notice and continue employee benefits through the end of 2026. Whether severance would be available was listed as unknown.

These are reported terms from the notice. The article does not give each employee’s payment or benefits details.

OhioMeansJobs Lake County offers help with job searches, resumes, cover letters and interviews. Employment service counselors are also available for guidance.

The career center is at 177 Main Street in Painesville. The county lists its hours as weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. These are general workforce services; no mine-specific job placement program is confirmed in the sources reviewed.