A sudden contract termination at a major pork processing facility has left 72 sanitation employees facing job changes. Fortrex, a sanitation company formerly known as Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), will end its services at the Quality Pork Processors (QPP) plant in Austin, Minnesota, on May 3.
The move follows an unexpected decision by QPP to cut ties with Fortrex after over a decade of collaboration. Fortrex had been providing sanitation services at the Austin facility, located at 711 Hormel Century Parkway, since February 2013.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice, the change will affect 72 Fortrex employees. All impacted workers have been informed and offered transfers to other Fortrex-operated locations, though the company noted that bumping rights will not be honored.
In a letter to state and local officials, Fortrex emphasized its commitment to assisting employees through the transition and directed questions to Human Resources Coordinator Molly Choi.
The QPP facility reportedly employs around 1,250 people. The long-term impact of this contract change on plant operations and the local workforce remains to be seen.
