Tyson Foods Announces Closure of Iowa Pork Plant, Impacting Over 1,000 Workers
Tyson Foods, one of the largest meat producers in the United States, has announced the permanent closure of its pork-packing plant in Perry, Iowa. This decision will affect over 1,000 workers and is part of a larger restructuring effort by the company, which also closed two chicken plants last year.
As part of the restructuring plan, Tyson Foods is expected to close four more plants within the first half of fiscal 2024, with estimated charges of $300-$400 million. The company has stated that it will encourage affected workers to apply for other positions within the company.
The closure of the Perry plant will leave 1,276 workers without jobs, making it the city’s largest employer. The state of Iowa has pledged support to assist impacted employees in finding new jobs, and the United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 1149 is calling for compensation and benefits for the affected employees.
The closure comes at a time of difficult economic conditions for the pork industry, with rising costs and low prices. Other Tyson Food plants in Virginia, Arkansas, Indiana, and Missouri have also closed in recent years. The company did not disclose specific reasons for closing the Perry plant, but efficiency optimization was cited.
For more information on this story, please contact USA TODAY reporter Natalie Neysa Alund at [email protected].
