A recent workforce filing involving the Tyson Foods Fresh Meats plant in Madison does not signal layoffs or a reduction in operations at the facility, according to City officials. The City of Madison issued a clarification after news reports about a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act filing raised concerns about employment at one of the community’s largest employers. According to the City, the WARN filing involves Fortrex, a third- party company that currently provides sanitation services at the Tyson facility. Fortrex is ending its contract at the plant, but the change is not the result of Tyson cutting jobs or scaling back production.
“When regulatory filings like WARN notices hit the news, they can easily cause undue concern for our residents and local business community,” Madison Economic Development Director Andy Colvin said. City officials said they have been in contact with Tyson plant management and were told the Madison facility continues operating under its normal production schedule without disruption.
Tyson is transitioning sanitation operations to a new third-party contractor. According to the City, the incoming contractor is working to retain qualified employees currently performing those jobs. Workers affected by the change are being encouraged to apply with the new contractor in an effort to continue working at the Madison facility.
The City emphasized that the WARN filing reflects the change between sanitation contractors rather than job eliminations by Tyson.
City officials said they will continue communicating with plant management and monitoring developments involving the facility.
““We want to assure the public that our primary employer is fully operational, operations are steady, and the underlying job roles at the facility remain intact as service contracts transition.”
ANDY COLVIN
Madison Economic Development Director
