KITV Sioux City :Workers report to John Morrell plant for last shift

[OmahaBlueDog]

Sorry if this was posted already:

http://www.ktiv.com/global/story.asp?s=12280329

"SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - A longtime Sioux City employer starts its goodbyes earlier than expected. Thursday, night shift employees at John Morrell reported to work for the last time.

In all, 1,450 people will be out of the job, when Morrell closes for good on Saturday. Friday, day shift workers will finish up. And, on Saturday, maintenance workers will report to the plant for their final shifts.

Thursday was a day that's come sooner than expected for the workers as the company originally said it would shut down on April 20th"

[orwell]

1. I worked in a pork processing plant...

...worst job I ever had.

I still can't eat pork...

[rsmith6621]

2. we Are Making Less and Less......

....for LESS

[liberal N proud]

3. Watch this location - the same factory will likely open back as Tyson

Or IBP.

And they will not hire anyone who worked there before.

I worked at an Iowa pork processing plant back in the RAYGUN years, it closed and 6 months later opened back up as IBP, now it is Tyson.

Not one individual who worked there before was hired, the wages are less than half of what they were in 1980 and the unions are gone.

[OmahaBlueDog]

4. Tyson already has the huge (formerly) IBP processing plant in South Sioux CIty

...so Tyson opening a hog slaughter plant in the area is not far fetched. But they already have a hog plant in Madison, NE. My guess is that if Tyson were to open another plant in the area, they would do it in Nebraska (RTW state) or over the border in South Dakota (better tax deal, generally, than in Iowa). I doubt they'll reopen at that location.

OTOH, one of the smaller packers in the area might give that location a shot (like Sioux Preme or Premium Iowa Pork), but your point would remain valid -- most likely for lower wages.

Did you work at the Tyson plant in Dennison?