Pork plant employee layoff in Sioux City

Unfavorable market conditions have led John Morrell & Co to temporarily discontinue its second shift pig processing operations at its Sioux City, Iowa, plant, as from this week.

The discontinuation in the plant, a Smithfield Foods subsidiary, will result in the temporary layoff of about 485 workers who work the second shift at the plant.

Necessary "This is a difficult but necessary decision to discontinue the second shift," said Joseph B. Sebring, president of John Morrell. "We hope to resume second shift operations when market conditions become more favourable."

As a result of the shutdown of the plant’s second shift, the Sioux City plant will process about 7,000 pigs per day. About 900 employees will remain at work.

"We know that this is challenging for the employees affected. We will be working diligently to return them back to work as soon as possible," Sebring said.

He said that the company would notify state dislocated worker units so that they can promptly offer dislocated worker assistance and coordinate with the local unemployment office to assist employees with claims or job applications.