West Liberty Foods announces layoffs

Hunter
03/19/24

West Liberty Foods announced a round of layoffs that will affect 260 of their employees beginning at the end of next month.

The Des Moines Register reports the farmer-owned cooperative will wind down its ready-to-eat turkey slicing operations, moving them to its facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a Chicago suburb.  It also will fold a second fabrication shift in West Liberty.

The company said additional cuts are expected in May, June and November, but their turkey harvesting and first shift operations will not be affected.

Additionally, the company is suspending matching contributions to employee 401K retirement plans in what they call a “temporary measure to conserve cash.”

West Liberty Foods is helping those being laid off by identifying other jobs within the company, either in West Liberty or elsewhere, and are assisting with onside reemployment and support services.