Pork plant closing; 476 jobs ending

Smithfield Packing Co., the nation's largest pork producer, said Monday that it will close its only unionized plant in the state and eliminate 476 jobs in Kinston.

The decision came after a team of engineers decided that it would be too expensive to upgrade the factory, which dates to 1948, with modern equipment needed to satisfy customers, spokesman Dennis Pittman said. Workers will be offered jobs at other Smithfield Foods facilities in Eastern North Carolina. "We should have enough positions for pretty much anyone who wants to make the relocation," he said.

The Kinston plant, which will remain open until May 9, smokes whole hams often served at Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings. Smithfield opened a separate $100 million Kinston facility in November 2006 after receiving the promise of as much as $11.5 million in state and local incentives.

Some displaced workers will get jobs at that plant, which makes deli meat, Pittman said.

Smithfield, with more than 10,000 employees in North Carolina, is among the state's largest private employers and is a major force in communities such as Tar Heel and Clinton.

Smithfield's presence also benefits livestock growers who supply its businesses. Critics, however, have long complained about lax environmental controls at Smithfield farms and dangerous working conditions in its factories.

The company has fought off unions, especially at its Bladen County plant, the world's largest pork slaughterhouse. Last year, Smithfield went so far as to file a federal racketeering lawsuit, alleging that the union amounted to a criminal organization.

Pittman said that the decision to close the Kinston factory was not influenced by its union status.

In fact, he said, some of the work traditionally done there will be transferred to unionized plants in places such as Virginia.

Laborers' International Union of North America spokesman Jacob Hay said members are unhappy with the decision.

"It is kind of curious this is happening," he said, after a "nonunion plant opened up down the road.

"They did promise new jobs, so we're going to hold them accountable for that."

He said the union expects the new jobs to be equivalent in pay and benefits.