(VIDEO) WEF World Economic Forum: United Nation COP29 Climate Summit – Meat and Dairy
Brent LeClair Nebraska Department of Labor on Tyson Plant Layoffs and the Community
The Tyson plant gave us notice of a layoff, a procedure warrant notice over a week ago. Tyson will be closing their plant as of January 20th, impacting 3,200 hard working people s for the community of Lexington, Nebraska. The general mood of the individuals coming in for our services, of course, is anxiety. What do I do next? When will I have a job? Where do I go? What do I do from here? Tyson workers make up about 3,200 of the population of 11,000 of Lexington, Nebraska. So they have a great impact upon the culture, schools and everything that a community is comprised of.
Tyson Employee Reactions to Layoff
Tyson Employee: I have four kids. My oldest is 21. I have one that is 13. I have one that is 11, and I have one that is 8. So when I told them about the layoffs their reaction was to cry, they were mad. I’m guessing that was just a reaction because they were heartbroken. They don’t want to go anywhere. This is their home.
Craig Udan Co-Owner Darr Feedlot Gives Feedback of Beef Cattle Population and Community
These plants have been underutilized and we have a shortage of beef cattle out there in the U.S. and because of that, very vulnerable that somebody might shut down. Really, my heart was broken over the change of what it does to our Nebraska community. We have a very strong community in Lexington, Nebraska that really is close-knit and very accepting of the packing industry as well as all industries.
Tyson Employee Reactions to Layoff
We’re just hard working people. That’s it. We’re just hard working people. All we do is go to work, come to church. That’s all we do here.
Pastor on Community Emotions
The emotions are just the same, just like everyone feels, because this is something, like I said, that touches every fabric of this community. No one seems to be spared. In the midst of all of that, the message remains the same. That whatever God allows to come to us, he allows it because he knows what he’s going to do about it in the end. So I keep assuring them not to be afraid.
AP – An American Dream at risk: What happens to a small Nebraska town when 3,200 workers lose their jobs
