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Nearly 300 workers in Momence, Illinois, were left without jobs on Monday following the abrupt closure of a Johnsonville Foods facility that had long been a cornerstone of the community. According to ABC7 Chicago, the sausage manufacturer notified 274 employees that the Momence Packing Company building was closing effective immediately.<\/p>\n
The plant, which has provided steady employment in Momence for more than 60 years, had been operated by Johnsonville Foods for the past three decades. The sudden shutdown shocked workers and city officials alike.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like they didn\u2019t even care about us. You know, same day?\u201d former employee Lupe Hernandez told ABC7 Chicago<\/a>. Hernandez said she had worked at the facility for 25 years, serving as an office clerk and in the hog barn. She explained that employees were summoned to a mandatory meeting in Kankakee, where the company\u2019s CEO informed them the plant was shutting down.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just very devastating, very heartbroken,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cI\u2019ve done nothing today but sit at home feel sorry for myself. What can we do?\u201d<\/p>\n