Friday, Feb. 15 is the last day on the job for beef processing workers at Emporia's Tyson Foods Plant.

Those processing shift workers are the last of about 1,700 employees to be laid-off in February as part of Tyson's restructuring operations in Emporia.

"When senior management made the initial decision to discontinue slaughter operations, we believed it was important to promptly notify our Team Members and make public disclosure," said Jim Lochner, senior group vice president of Tyson Fresh Meats.

"Our first announcement was based on what we knew at the time of the initial decision. Since the announcement, we've been able, with the assistance of the Emporia management team, to do a more extensive study of future production options and now have a better estimate of our staffing needs," said Lochner.

The start of new beef production at the plant will begin Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Those operations will employ between 600 and 700 people for involving cold storage and shipping. Some of those laid-off workers with certain production skills are being selected to fill many of those 600-700 jobs. Tyson said those workers, who will come from the plant's previous first and second shift operations, were notified this week.

In January, Tyson announced plans to modify beef operations at the Emporia plant by discontinuing beef slaughter and some processing operations.

Northeast Kansas Employers to Help Laid-Off Workers
In response to the Tyson layoffs, a community job fair will be held in Emporia on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Flint Hills Technical College, 3301 W. 18th Ave.

At least 82 employers have signed up for booths to recruit employees.