Source:  Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 1/7/10

In closing its mammoth South Plant in Smithfield, Va., and consolidating operations at the nearby North Plant, Smithfield Foods Inc. will wind up laying off fewer than 30 workers, according to a report in the Daily Press of Newport News, Va., quoting a company human resources executive.

That's only a portion of the 340 employees it expected to have to lay off when the company announced the move in 2009, Jeff Gough, Smithfield's vice president of human resources, is quoted as saying.

Gough chalks the good news up to the fact that the company didn't hire any permanent workers, filling positions with temps for the time being and letting attrition reduce overall head count on its own.

After the consolidation is completed, more than 2,600 people will work at the North Plant, which in the meantime has been given a $22 million expansion, the newspaper said.

The legal case still is pending with the union that represents the South Plant employees. That case was due to come before a judge in early December, but the National Labor Relations Board postponed it, and the hearing has yet to be rescheduled.