GREENWOOD, S.C. -- A total of 300 workers at a Greenwood plant have been laid off since August.

Solutia Inc. employee Kaja Wilson, who thought her layoff in August was temporary, said the tales of trouble started late last spring.

"A rumor was going around there's going to be a layoff and we brushed it off because we hadn't heard from the big people," Wilson said.

The latest layoffs at Solutia happened on Friday.

"I had a friend call me yesterday and told me that. She was just crying because of the way it happened," Wilson said.

Solutia laid off both contract and regular employees.

The company makes nylon fiber used in carpet, airbags and seatbelts. Solutia spokeswoman Missy Hammond said the company has seen an unprecedented drop in demand for nylon in the past six weeks.

Hammond said Solutia is working with employees to help them file for unemployment. After the layoffs, the company will have about 600 employees.

Despite the layoffs, Wilson, a mother of two, is staying optimistic.

"I feel in my heart a change is going to happen," Wilson said. "Something's going to happen."

"Now, it's about surviving," she said. "Right now that's what it's about."