Today will be the last day at work for nearly 500 workers on the second shift at the Tyson Foods meat processing plant in Council Bluffs. Company spokesman Gary Mikelson says while the jobs are being eliminated, many of the employees will be staying with Tyson.
“Some of the 480 employees affected by this cutback have either found another job within the plant, transferred to another Tyson location or have found work with some other company,” Mikelson says. Nearly 200 of the employees have found new jobs, either with Tyson or elsewhere, he says. Mikelson says Tyson has been working with the affected workers to help them find other jobs.
“We’ve also invited state officials into the plant,” he says. “They’ve met with employees to talk about unemployment benefits.” Mikelson says the company is shifting the 480 jobs to plants in two other states. “Anytime that you eliminate positions and lay off people, it’s a very difficult thing to do,” he says.
“Never the less, it’s something that we feel is necessary in order to make sure our overall business is sound.” The company announced the layoffs in January. A job fair was held last week for outgoing plant workers, featuring 35 employers.
