MADISON, Wis. – Patrick Cudahy Inc., a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, began initiated job layoffs at its pork plant in Cudahy, Wis., Oct. 31 as the result of a “customer changing its supplier and an unforeseen acceleration of the original timeline for completion of this work.”

According to a letter sent to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development on Nov. 24, a total of approximately 322 employees will be temporarily laid off, and 17 additional positions will be terminated, for a total of 339 workers affected. The layoffs are expected to be incremental, through Jan. 21 or shortly thereafter. The layoff of union-represented employees is expected to be temporary, while the termination of the non-union employees will be permanent. The company expects to begin recalling union-represented employees back to work in February, 2011.