HEFLIN, Ala., Sept. 28, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Workers displaced by a fire at the Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) poultry plant in Heflin, Alabama, are being offered immediate employment at the company's other Alabama processing facilities. In addition, workers will also receive 40 hours worth of pay for this week, even though the plant has been idle.
The Heflin processing facility was extensively damaged by fire last Saturday. In fact, the roof collapsed in some areas. The plant, which employs 267 people, was not in operation when the fire started; however, outside contractors were on-site doing roofing work. There were no injuries.
"We're very concerned by the severity of the damage and how this disruption in business affects our Team Members and the community," said Bill Lovette, senior group vice president of Poultry and Prepared Foods, who visited the Heflin plant Tuesday. "A Tyson operations and engineering team has examined the site and is now considering our options going forward. However, even if we decide to rebuild, it will be many months before the plant is operational."
In order to help affected hourly workers employed at Heflin, the company is offering them jobs at Tyson plants in Albertville, Ashland, Blountsville and Gadsden, Alabama. If they accept, they will retain their Tyson seniority and will receive comparable pay and benefits. Workers are being asked to fill out a form indicating their preferred plant and shift. They will subsequently be instructed when and where to report for work next Monday. Many of the plant's management workers have already been reassigned to other Tyson plants.
Hourly Heflin Team Members will receive checks today for the work they performed last week before the fire. They will also later receive 40 hours worth of pay for this week, even though the plant was not operational.
"We value our Heflin Team Members and want to retain as many of them as possible," Lovette said. "While the fire has created new challenges for all of us, we hope they choose to remain with the company."
As a result of the offer of jobs at other Tyson plants, the company may experience temporary overstaffing at some locations, however, company officials believe employment numbers will stabilize over time through normal attrition.
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the "Powered by Tyson(tm)" strategy. Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 110,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.