NORTH BALTIMORE – A meat processing facility in southern Wood County has announced
plans to lay off 100 workers, about one-third of its work force, indefinitely.
The Equity Group, located in Bloom Township, just outside North Baltimore at 2208
Grant Road, employs between 300 and 400 people and serves as a meat processing
plant for McDonald’s restaurants all over the country.
"It’s certainly going to be devastating for our community," said village
council member Bill Cameron.
"It’s a small town and that makes a difference. You know everyone that gets laid
off, they are your neighbors."
Cameron said the layoffs, impacting 90 hourly employees and 10 supervisors, are
expected to be effective around the first week of November.
And, he said, "There is a possibility that the workers who are being maintained
may have their hours cut."
Maureen Garrity, a spokeswoman for Keystone Foods’ which encompasses Equity, said:
"As Keystone Foods’ strategies continually evolve to meet market demand and
grow our business, we have taken steps to optimize operations at our Equity,
North Baltimore facility to remain competitive within our industry."
She said the company remains confident in the future of operations in North
Baltimore.
"We continue to be committed to the region and to our employees, whose hard work
and efforts have positioned us well to serve our customers’ needs and to pursue
new opportunities," she said in a prepared statement.
Wood County Commissioner Tim Brown said Wednesday McDonald’s officials redesigned the
hamburger distribution area under its service arrangement, cutting out stores
from the North Baltimore plant’s customer list.
Brown said officials from McDonald’s did not inform Equity officials of the possible
change until it went into effect.
"It was a big surprise to Equity Meats and its employees. The company didn’t
have any lead time at all," he said. "It’s horrible news for those
workers."
North Baltimore Mayor Mike Julien was also saddened by the news.
"From a village standpoint, it will probably mean a little bit less revenue for
income tax collections because a number people who work there live in the
village," he said.
It could also have an impact on water revenue.
Julien said Equity Group is one of the village’s larger customers for purchasing
water to maintain their processes.
In response to the layoffs, the county commissioners dispatched a team from Wood
County Job and Family Services to the plant.
"Our rapid response team is aware of it," Brown said.
The county’s JobSolutions team helps displaced workers hook up to unemployment
benefits, job training, and potential new employment.
(Editor’s note: Staff Writer Jan Larson McLaughlin contributed to this story).
