The Idaho Falls, ID, beef processing plant American Farmers Network, formerly known as Intermountain Packing, abruptly ceased operations in early April, laying off at least 150 employees.
Local News 8 reported that employees were told not to come to work on April 3, with no advance notice given.
Under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, covered employers are required to provide at least 60 days’ prior written notice in the event of a mass layoff or plant closing. Idaho Department of Labor (IDOL) documents show that a WARN Act notice was received from Intermountain Packing on April 6, with an effective date of April 3.
IDOL confirmed with Local News 8 that the company said it “experienced an abrupt and unforeseeable financial crisis, resulting in an immediate inability to meet payroll obligations. Because these circumstances were not reasonably predictable, we were unable to provide the standard 60-day notice. We are providing this notification as soon as practicable.”
Last January, Intermountain Packing was sued for allegedly not paying clients for more than $2 million worth of cattle. In July, the plant was acquired by American Farmers Network.
