Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What a JOKE of a company! It's a shame that they keep kicking their employees while their down!!! I will pledge to boycott anything that reads TYSON on it and I hope others will follow!! Shame on you TYSON...

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LOL @ hawks... how are they kicking them when they are down???

Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dugh Eddison? It doesn't take and EINSTEIN to realize that they cut 2nd shift this week and then probably the entire plant tomorrow...they have no professional standards or morals for that matter...I hope everyone turns vegitarian so that plant goes COW Belly Up!!!!

Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Question about the "continue to receive wages & benefits for 60 days". Does that 60 days start from their last day of employment, or did the clock start ticking on that on the day of the original announcement?

Posted by anonomom (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No way. Cows are tasty.

Posted by Hillbilly (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

eddison, i overlooked your post in another forum, just figured your a idiot. you are... BUT your comment on this one has to be one of the most stupid comments you have made, These people have lost a living that had taken time to build, even having a couple of weeks to plan has now been whipped out from under them by what has to be one of the most sorry companies in the U.S.. how special you must be in your simple mind to not understand.

I agree with you Hawk, they will end it all within a week and I bet that includes the hamburger line and storage..

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@hawks - So tell me the difference if they cut this week or March 25th? Serisouly I want to know... as I don't understand how this has a negative effect on the employees... the plant will not close tomorrow or next month or the next year for that matter.... Mark my words... :) If they were to close the plant they would have made that intention very clear the first release of this news...

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hillbilly - Sorry your posts do not even deserve a reply.. I have seen numerous posts from you that are nothing but hatred, hot air, and a bunch of nonsense... Have a good day.

Posted by laid_off_pissed_off (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh wow, I work first shift and this is the first I have heard about this. Good thing they let us all know before they make their final blow. Yes Eddison2, it is a kick to them, you may not think it is from your stand point of view (looking from the outside in), but just another shock to them when they realize this is their last day. Wouldn't be such a blow if they knew how things were going to flow from here, but they haven't gotten all these people sit down to tell them if they will be recieving weekly checks in the mail, getting one lump sum ect. Just like the way they made the announcement, they came in on Friday and delivered the news at the end of shift before everyone was to go home and enjoy their weekend. No answers when we got back to work on Monday because no one in upper management has a clue. Was very considerate of the CEO's and coroporate people to just drop it in our facilities lap and direct all questions to our plant manager who couldn't give us an answer because he doesn't / didn't know and they didn't stick around for the weekend to go over the details. It goes to show how organize TYSON is overall.
I know I will NOT be buying Tyson products from here on out.

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hillbilly, I think you are on the money about the comments of others. Not that I have agreed with everything you have posted in the past on other issues. But some people here are just looking to be 'right fighters', only their opinon matters. I have expressed it on another article, that if we just ignore them, they will go away.

As for TYSON, all be go to h*ll. Why does this not surprise me to just boot them out before they even have a chance to breathe the concept of no employment. Its disgusting, its disgracefull and a slap in the face to these people who have given years of their lives to that place. Makes me totally ill.

Posted by hawks422 (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@ Eddision You IDIOT....It's called a PAYCHECK!!! If they cut now that will be less time they have to pay these loyal hard working employees a check! Then that means unemployment & who paritially takes care of unemployment...us the tax payers....not to mention all the other governemnt assistance that will be needed. The longer they get to keep their jobs the less time they'll need govt. assistance. Don't be suprised if they do close that entire plant down...TYSON has been pretty wishy washy about this whole predicment and they haven't made anything clear from the get go!!!

Posted by AreYouHappyNow (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tyson has to pay the displaced employees for 60 days whether they laid them off today or last Friday. It's called the Warren Act. That's why most companies will give 60 days severance and show you the door.

If I worked there I would not want to work the 60 day and not have anything to fall back on. At least now they have some time to find some type of work before the checks stop coming in.

Posted by laid_off_pissed_off (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hawks422, they will continue to get a paycheck, whether it's going to be weekly or one lump sum I haven't heard. I'm guessing that the remaining checks that we all will be getting will just be based off of 32 hours per week and not 40. I'm hoping that it is payed on a weekly basis just for the simple fact that paying that out in one lump sum I am sure Uncle Sam will take quite a bit out and also some people might be to quick to spend and be in limbo when the next month rolls around. If they were to pay it in one lump sum, would the laid off people be able to get unemployment right away or have to wait until after March 25th? Maybe someone who reads and post in here can answer that question?

Posted by railroadhorn (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's obvious Tyson doesn't give a crap about Emporia or even its workers. And the company isn't going to wait for any overtures from the city or state officials. It's just a shame that no one had any notice this was coming....big blindslide to everyone!

Posted by moesha288 (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WE ALL NEED TO HAVE HEARTS FOR ALL THE DISPLACED FAMILIES WHO ARE AFFECTED BY TYSON LAYOFF AND QUIT MAKING ASSES OF OURSELVES BY POSTING HEARTLESS UNECESSARY COMMENTS. MOST OF THIS PEOPLE HAVE NOT ONLY LOST THEIR JOBS BUT IN SOMEWAYS THERE LIFES 2 .... NO ONE IS EVER READY FOR THIS SO WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE MAKING YOUR NASTY COMMENTS BE GREATLFUL UR NOT IN THEIR SHOES AND PRAY FOR THEM TO COME OUT OF THIS OK AND QUIT CATEGORIZING PEOPLE CAUSE ITS ALL RACES !!!! I MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF YOU AND I PRAY FOR U ALL....

Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have another simple question: The original layoff statement said Tyson would be "offering bonuses and incentives for QUALIFIED employees who are willing to transfer ".
The article about the Somalian community leaving Emporia says "Somali workers .... will ALL be eligible for transfers to other Tyson facilities"

Just asking - are ALL employees affected eligible for transfer, or just ALL Somalians?

Again, I'm just asking for clarification....

Posted by morethenenough (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@areyouhappynow-YOU are correct its called the warren act.........BY law these people will be paid for 60 days working or not............(GOOGLE IT and read up on it for those OF YOU who dont have a clue)

@eddiosn2......YES.....THESE PEOPLE will benefit not having to work and GET PAID which frees them to find other work.........THE NEGATIVE clan need to BECOME more informed before putting words IN type that make them appear totally IGNORANT......
TYSON INVITED recruiters in from all over....GIBBON, NATIONAL BEEF, TYSON,and many more ARE HERE NOW and recruiting these people for WORK.........WHILE they are getting paid working or not.......

TRANSFERS are for ALL EMPLOYEES......!

I NEVER saw "BONUSES" worded in the notice.....
THERE are RELOCATION ASSISTANCE along with CASH incentive packages.....

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love how everyone of you uneducated folks (about 90% of the article posters here.. I believe their king is one called "hillbilly") are calling me the idiot and the ignorant one...

hawks, hillbilly, and other uneducated posters go read up on the WARN ACT a FEDERAL law, I will post the link but doubtful any of you simple folk will understand it... http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/u...

Short and Simple.. Tyson employees that are being laid off will continue to get paid their normal checks + benefits (ie. medical etc) until March 25th.. at that time under normal circumstances those who recieve severance packages will get them then.

Summary: These employees will have their paycheck and now be able to talk to recruiters, explore the possibilites of changing careers to stay in Emporia, or explore the possibilites of the relocation packages that Tyson is offering all without the stress of the daily grind of working in that plant knowing your days are numbered, and hating every moment of it....

ALSO Tyson has broken no laws or commitments in doing this... An employer may order a plant closing or mass layoff before the conclusion of the 60-day period if the closing or mass layoff is caused by business circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable as of the time that notice would have been required.

I may be short, and irritable, and highly disgusted with the people posting on this forum but I am not an Idiot...

Posted by emporian (anonymous) on January 30, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Saw this on the Topeka Capitol Journal Online Comments about this subject:

Posted by: eannefrye at Jan 30, 2008 at 12:38:42 PM
Regarding that "Rac[e] to the bottom,": Quoating, again, from "The Perfect Storm of Opportunity" by Paul Zane Pilzer, "The right kind of unemployment can unleash human creativity that will begin a paradigm shift; unemployment is actually the first and only true sign of economic growth."

Posted by tlm78 (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think that some of you are talking about the The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) WARN ACT not the Warren Act. If I understand it correctly it requires 60 day notice when some plants close. It appears that they eithor have to continue to employ them for the 60 or pay them for the 60. If my understanding is correct it is probably better for them to be laid off now so that they can have more time for finding new jobs. The other option would be to work for 60 day and have to work and look for employment.
With that being said, Tyson is doing what it thinks it need to in order to maintain the profit. The company's purpose is to make a profit not to provide employment. With that said they don't appear to be doing anything that they don't have to by law so they aren't doing anyone any favors.

Posted by prairiepoet (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 6:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

“Now that the problem with
the Somalis has been resolved,
Emporia can now focus on the
real problems at hand. Dogs
riding in the back of trucks,
the Mexicans, and continue
to save the fairgrounds.”
—madpoet

dear emporia poet—
reading thru dozens of posts
wading thru stories of
dislocation and angst...
stories town people
I feel like billy budd…
mute before the obvious
kansas hard stoic—
a killer…

Posted by bellabrooke (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not wanting to be insensitive, but I for one am looking forward to Emporia not smelling like a cesspool anymore and I know I'm not alone.

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

From the information I have been able to obtain, Tyson has done this very same thing to a total of 20+ plants they have aquired over the years.
My question is this, How much longer is "OUR" greedy and corrupt government going to let Tyson and other wealthy, greedy and corrupt corporations continue to rape and step on the American worker and taxpayer ?
Judging from Tyson's past track record for closing plants, this will not be the last plant, employees or city that Tyson will kick into the ditch. Don't get me wrong I realize that the whole country is experiencing a trying time right now, but Tyson seems to have a strong penchant for closing plants.
It's time for each and every hard working and taxpaying American to stand-up and say enough is enough and put a stop to the greed and corruption by voting for change in the way government is run and put the power where it belongs, in the hands of all Amercians and not just a few who are able to buy influence and government policy-making.
I also would like to wish all of those workers who are out of work the very best of everything and may GOD be with you and GOOD LUCK !

Posted by create (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

eddison2, here is a better link to the WARN Act. The acronym WARN stands for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification.

http://www.doleta.gov/programs/factsht/w...

And please stop calling people uneducated or stupid or other derogatory names. We are all here to contribute thoughtful discussion, and to try to analyze the situation. Your own contributions have been interesting and appreciated except for the name-calling. Please, it negates the quality of your argument. Thanks.

Posted by create (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

All due respect, Methusla, if only a handful of people on this forum can't get along, how do you propose to put all this power in the hands of all Americans? We must have a representative form of government.

Posted by prairiepoet (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tyson

The drive on west sixth—
is on an artery of blood & guts
pumped by the meatpacking plant…
lots of fast food joints along
the way thru that little town
plus new pickup trucks…
dead cattle at the end of the trail
waiting like us to be seated
in dante’s inferno next to the
old roller-rink long gone…
my friend slipped in the gore and
shot himself in the head screaming
all the way to the topeka hospital….
sluggish polluted muddy cottonwood
river south of the tracks where
my hispanic girlfriend lived but I
was long gone how it stunk my last
visit there in my hometown the smell
of dead carcasses & burning hide…
so bad I couldn’t breathe but my
stepfather said that’s the smell of money…
so I shrugged and nodded because
by then I was long gone…

Posted by hottopics (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I heard that Menu is next on the list within the few weeks. They have already have a few quiet layoffs starting around Christmas time and things are coming to a head here real quick with them as well. I sure hope its just cut backs and not shut downs.

Posted by reinhard88 (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Its a damn shame those poor somalians have to leave. ha just kidding

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

@ create - That is a good fact sheet.. What I posted was the actual contents of the WARN Act.. good find and easy to read.. I'm only returning the favor of the name callings (well in most cases and usually it stirs up responses :P ).. Yes I know this is childish in some regard, but sometimes fun :) ..

Posted by eddison2 (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

@ hot_topics - Where did you hear that? I know since the recall they have been hurting quite a bit.... Was there an announcement of upcomming events?

Posted by zeepmonk (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tyson has positions at the other plants for all - not just the somilies. The relocation bonus / moving fees etc... is only for people with knife skills. They are paying 3k - 4k bonus to go to one of the other plants plus 1k for a motel for a month plus 800 for a mover plus .49 cents a mile for you to drive each vehicle you have to the new plant.

Posted by emporialifer (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Methusla - unfortunately greed/money/possessions is a part of life in almost all cultures I would dare to say, so I don't think we can point fingers when we are all guilty of being greedy. IMO our gov't (both/all sides) is so corrupt as it is that I can't imagine giving them the power to regulate even more things when it comes to business. Now let me say that I'm not saying all politicians are bad, but sometimes I hear of spending or decisions by people and all I can do is shake my head in disbelief. Granted - I am not in those individuals shoes everyday and I might not know all the facts behind their decisions, so I try to give them the benefit of the doubt.

My point is that I can't imagine giving the gov't the power to say hey Mr. business owner, I'm sorry that you have analyzed your business and realize that this certain activity is losing your overall business money, but we will not allow you to fix the problem because it is going to cause job loss, hard times, etc. Seems a little absurd doesn't it? It's unfortunate that businesses have to make some very tough decisions at times that are not going to go over well with some employees and it's too bad that sometimes those decisions are based on things that might seem like greed, but in our free country everyone should be allowed to try to make money and if their business venture is not working the way they like, they have to have the ability to make changes. P.S. No I don't work for Tyson. This is just my overall view.

Posted by olddog (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For all of you that wanted Tyson to close you got your wish.
As far as the "smell" have you smelled yourself lately, maybe its you!

Why keep dwelling on the past and what Tyson did and didnt do when there is over 1,500 people out of a job. Most of you spreading rumors etc are not even Tyson employees so why are you so concerned about their pay, hours or last day to work. You are not the one who has lost your job, insurance, retirement, benefits etc. You dont seem to care about the PEOPLE all you care about is "TYSON".

All you wanted was the plant to be gone, next inline is Menu or Dolly wonder which one will come first ... Hills petfoods ...they were going to depend on Tyson for products, Safeway petfoods depends on tyson for products dont you think they will be affected in some way or another down the line...dont you think this is going to be more like a domino affect, time will tell.

I wish all of the people who lost their jobs the best.

Posted by isabella (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let me tell you all how things are for someone whose shoes you are trying to walk in. The only recruters that have been in the plant are the tyson plants fron finney, Dakota city and joslin. Not everyone that wants to transfer to another plant will be taken it is only for the openings that they have. The bonus that they are talking about are for grade are for those that hold a grade 5 or higher.Tyson never bothered to inform second shift slaughter that wednesday would be there final day until the end of there shift. Yes First shift still have there jobs for no but are only getting guaranteed 32 hours. And as for being better off not working while we get paid think again, Unemployment is not going to pay my bills and feed my children and be enough to keep my home you tell me how much better off I am going to be? All of you that still have your jobs need to feel very lucky in time it may happen to you and how are you going to feel with others making comments that it is alll your fault and that you are going to be better off then you are now? You all need to say a little prayer when you go to bed tonight and say thank you for what you have one day it may be taken away from you to.

Posted by olddog (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

isabella --- I agree!
You all need to say a little prayer when you go to bed tonight and say thank you for what you have one day it may be taken away from you to.

Posted by laid_off_pissed_off (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@ isabella, I was wondering what time they posted it up at work, because I didn't see anything posted about it being 2nd shifts last night when I left work yesterday.

I don't think you are understanding what the person was trying to say. Regardless all people who are being laid off will have their paycheck end March 25. While you are no longer working you are still going to be getting a paycheck and you have the opprotunity to look for another job right now. If you get a job between now and then, you still should getting a pay check from Tyson through March 25.

@morethenenough "TRANSFERS are for ALL EMPLOYEES......!"

I have to disagree with you on that. The way that it is stated it is for people with knife experience or maintenance workers who are at a Level 5.

How many of the office workers that are being let go have that kind of experience?

How many maintenace workers meet that criteria to qualify?

So no it's not for all EMPLOYEES....unless you know something more then what we know.

Posted by morethenenough (anonymous) on January 31, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)

@ laid_off_pissed_off

Transfers are for all who want to put in for one.......level 5 and higher will have moving assistance and incentives

Posted by emporian (anonymous) on February 1, 2008 at 12:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My understanding was that they were for all employees who wanted them. I heard it from a supervisor last week, so take it for what its worth.

Posted by create (anonymous) on February 1, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't wait until later to read this. It behooves all of us to read it as soon as possible. It isn't long, and it does involve Emporia.

http://refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpres...

Posted by Cherry_Bomb (anonymous) on February 2, 2008 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

************************************************************************************************
Governor Says She Had Wrong Info on Tyson
Posted: 4:11 PM Feb 1, 2008
http://www.wibw.com/13newsat6/headlines/...

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said Friday she was given inaccurate information regarding
the massive lay-off at the Emporia Tyson plant. Tyson announced Jan. 25 that it would
end beef slaughter operations at the Emporia facility, cutting 1500 of that plant's 2400 jobs.

**** Sebelius says she was told jobs would be offered within Tyson for all of the employees
who are being laid off. At a Friday news conference, she said she's now learned the offers
will be made to as FEW as 400 workers.

Half of the job offers will be at the Finney County plant.
The rest at Tyson plants in Nebraska and Illinois.

Emporia city leaders, community members and Sen. Sam Brownback were meeting
behind closed doors in Emporia Friday afternoon to talk about the Tyson situation.

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