Tyson Foods to Shut Joslin, Illinois Plant, Affecting About 2,500 Workers
Tyson Foods announced the closure of its Joskin, Illinois meat-packing plant, ending jobs for roughly 2,500 union employees, with some staff receiving compensation through October 2026.
Tyson Foods said it will close its meat-packing facility in Joslin, Illinois, with the shutdown taking effect on Thursday. Employees received a letter that day indicating their duties would end on Thursday or Friday, and a subset may be asked to continue limited operations beyond Aug. 14. Those workers will be paid through Oct. 12, 2026.
Illinois officials reported that about 2,500 union workers will lose their jobs as a result of the closure. The company also announced plans to close its Eagle Mountain, Utah, plant and to sell its Pasco, Washington, facility.
"The old CEO stepped down, a new CEO stepped in. He came here and evaluated our plant and he chose to close our plant without any notice for us, any notice for our union people," said Rita Newton, a worker with 11 years at the Joslin plant.
The Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce issued a statement acknowledging the impact on the region, and state officials described the closure as a significant loss for the local economy. The plant, which processed beef, is closing amid a USDA projection that domestic beef production will fall 3% this fiscal year.