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Turkey plant's future m" doubt Agencies gear up to help 169 workers left out in the holiday cold By Tim Moran go ahead and schedule meetings "By the looks of it, we're not and Carlos Lemus for employees of the Christensen going to get paid," said worker Bee staff writers Processing Marketing Inc. rather Mario Garcia. "This was going to A handwritten sign outside the than wait for a definitive word be my first check." Christensen turkey processing on the fate of the plant. "We were never even warned plant says it is temporarily Rumors have circulated for this going to happen," cried an- closed. weeks that the plant at 217 Daly other worker. But workers at the plant worry Ave. has been permanently Garcia said he moved here re- the closure is more than tempo- closed. The 169 employees at the cently from Arizona and applied rary. Some say they haven't plant have been laid off, but say at the Christensen turkey plant been paid for work performed. they were told the plant would with the hope of better wages Others say the checks they have reopen for a Christmas run of and more permanent work. received have been late or inac- turkeys. But Monday morning, Garcia curate. And still others believe Many don't believe it. Workers still was waiting for his pay- the plant will never reopen. who asked to remain anony- check due last Friday. Plant management, as well as mous, in case the plant does re- "Five dollars an hour was bet- the owners, aren't talking. open, say they have had repeat- ter than the $4.50 1 was making The situation has become so ed problems cashing payroll at the temporary agency,"Garcia muddled, in fact, that Stanislaus checks in recent months, and be- said. "They (plant officials) have County Private Industry Council lieve the plant is permanently rn+.rocantati�.-oc.hava derided fn .See Back Pane, Plant PLANT: Workers told they'd be back on job by Christmas CONTINUED from A-1 "There is the potential 160 em- know of the programs available just kept telling me to come back ployees will file claims for un- to help them, Plett said. The Christensen workers in- for m check another da pard wages," said Dale Louton, Meetings will be held Dec. 7 dude worked line workers, many of y y- the supervisor of the Stockton and 8 in the auditorium at Coun- whom worked for Louis Rich a- "I have not been paid for all P several years when that compa- the hours I worked here," said and Sacramento district offices ty Center III, Scenic Drive and El ny operated a turkey processing Sheilah Jenner. "I've been short- of the state labor commissioner. Vista Avenue, according to Plett. plant in the Daly Avenue build- ed. What can I do." Louton said employees could The Dec. 7 meetings will be at ing. Jenner, who has worked at the file suit through the state labor 8:30 a.m, and 1 p.m., and the Louis Rich employed as many plant for only one month, said commissioner's office. Dec. 8 meeting at 8:30 a.m. will as 900 workers in the building she was not surprised. This is not the first time, Lou- be conducted in Spanish. before it made the decision to "Since I've been here,they had ton has dealt with the plant. He A spokeswoman at Modesto's close the plant in 1991.The plant problems with boilers and main- said before the closure the office Employment Development De- was acquired by the Christensen I tenance," Jenner said. "They had received about 30 wage partment said EDD would also family in 1992. never even told us we were laid claims involving Christensen. participate in the sessions. Like The Christensens reopened the off." "We have no way of knowing PIC, officials at EDD have not plant and processed turkey on a For others, the news of no pay if it will reopen or not,"said Ter- received any plant closure notifi- smaller scale, but ran into finan- and no work shattered lingering the Pnva Program manager with cation. Under the Warn Act, tial problems. The plant closed hopes the situation would be re- try Council, companies employing 100 or in February of 1994, but was re- solved. "We debated here what to do more employees must give 60- opened about six months later "Every time we come back, — wait until it crashes or move days notice before closings or by Tom Christensen in. they tell us to come back tomor- now. Those people aren't work- mass layoffs. More recently, half the plant row," said a Patterson man who ing, so we are going to treat it as was leased to Zac spoke only Spanish. He declined such," Plett said. "For us not to The sessions will cover servic- ky Farms on to give his name, fearing his Provide services wouldn't be fair es available for dislocated work- an interim basis after a fire de- family would not get paid. to the workers." ers, including information on stroyed Zacky's Dinuba process- "We keep coming back and Waiting to if the how to apply for unemployment ing plant. g see Plant re- insurance and access the state The Bee has been unable to hoping to get our checks," he opens makes it difficult to find job system. The United Way has contact plant representatives for said. "What can we 130." the employees and let ;hem been invited to attend. Pleet said. comment, ,