Meat plant plans mass layoffs in St. Charles

Armour-Eckrich Meats has notified state officials of plans to eliminate more than 100 full-time jobs at its St. Charles processing plant through mass layoffs slated to begin next week.

The company, which is headquartered in Lisle and operates facilities in six states, did not cite a reason for the reduction in its recent report to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, according to the government agency.

On Wednesday, Christine McGann, a representative of the Armour-Eckrich plant in St. Charles, referred questions to a company spokeswoman who could not immediately be reached.

Ashley Cross, spokeswoman for the IDCEO, said the company was required to give the department advance notice of the layoffs because 75 or more full-time positions were going to be cut. In its report, the company said the layoffs would affect 103 workers, with the first layoffs scheduled for Monday. Cross did not know how many people altogether work at the plant, 410 Kirk Road.

According to its Web site, Armour-Eckrich Meats has more than 3,100 employees from 13 states and is "not just a major employer, but also a caring member of the community." It manufactures hot dogs and sausages, among other items, at facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and Kansas, the Web site said.