Plant closure will lead to hundreds of layoffs in Riverside
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The meat processing company JBS is closing a packing facility in Riverside and will lay off 374 employees, according to a notice from the California Employment Development Department.The closure comes as a limited cattle supply has led to record-high beef prices this year.
The Riverside facility, operated by JBS subsidiary Swift Beef Co., prepares meat for sale in U.S.grocery stores but does not slaughter animals, JBS spokesperson Nikki Richardson said.
The affected employees will be given opportunities at other JBS plants, including relocation support, Richardson said.Employees who choose not to relocate will be given a 60-day notice period before their employment ends.
The price of beef has soared in recent months as ranchers have cut their herds due to a drought across pastureland and a parasite known as screwworm, which forced a halt to U.S.imports of Mexican cattle.
Last month, meat processing giant Tyson Foods closed one if its largest beef-processing facilities in Nebraska.JBS said production handled at the Riverside plant will be transferred to other company facilities without interrupting customer supply or service.
The transition is expected to be complete by early next year, the company said.“JBS is committed to supporting impacted team members through this transition,” Richardson said in a statement.
“The company remains focused on delivering high-quality products and dependable service while strengthening its operational footprint to meet evolving market demands.” Business Chevron and other oil firms have been sued by California, which alleges that their production and refining operations have caused billions in damage.The Riverside plant closure is part of a broader company strategy to optimize and simplify its operations.Shares of JBS were down less than 1% in midday trading Monday and have remained flat this year, rising about 2% since January.
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