http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,12 ... 07,00.html
1/19/07

Swift cuts 58 corporate staff

DENVER (AP) — Swift & Co., one of the nation's largest meatpacking companies, said Thursday it has laid off 58 employees at its corporate offices and has taken other cost-cutting steps to improve its competitive edge.

The layoffs represented about 10 percent of Swift's corporate staff and took effect immediately. They involved nonunion employees who will receive severance, continued health benefits and help in finding new jobs, the company said.

Swift also will not fill 12 vacant jobs at its headquarters and will cut costs for such items as contract services and professional fees.

Swift President and CEO Sam Rovit said the moves were unrelated to immigration raids at six of the company's plants last month. He said the cuts had been in the works since last fall.

Federal immigration authorities rounded up 1,297 workers at Swift plants in Colorado, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and Utah. The company said earlier this month that the raids could cost the company up to $30 million due to recruitment and training costs for new employees.

"Operationally, we are well on our way to recovery (from the raids), and we remain confident in our financial position," Rovit said in a statement. "We anticipate no continuing impact on our business beyond May of this year."