An employee unloads chickens off of a truck at the Pilgrim's Pride chicken processing plant on the corner of Broad and Main Streets in Chattanooga in this file photo.CHATTANOOGA - The Pilgrim's Pride is laying off 85 workers at its poultry processing plant in Chattanooga.
WRCB-TV reported plant employees were notified Thursday that the layoffs are effective at the end of this week.
The company's human resources department said affected workers will receive information about applying for unemployment benefits, continuing their current benefits and re-employment options. The company expects to recall many of the laid-off workers as other positions are vacated at the plant.
Pilgrim's Pride plans to continue processing all birds grown for the plant and said the layoffs are the result of streamlining some processes.
The company is based in Greeley, Colo.