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Layoffs and furloughs impacting Sturtevant
This summer, hundreds of people in Racine County are going to be out of a job. The notices went out this week.
STURTEVANT, Wis. - This summer, hundreds of people in Racine County are going to be out of a job. The notices went out this week.
United Natural Foods
What we know:
The employees work for United Natural Foods, Inc in Sturtevant.
A spokesperson for United Natural Foods sent FOX6 a statement this evening.
They say they're "transitioning out of the Racine distribution center and expanding its one in Joliet, Illinois.
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United Natural Foods, Inc
They say this will support long-term growth in the greater Chicago area and improve service to partners over time.
On the other hand, the company will stop operations in Sturtevant. That means 433 positions in Sturtevant will be eliminated starting June 20.
The company says it's grateful to its associates and is working to support them through this transition.
Cree Lighting
What we know:
Just a few miles away, there's confusion at Cree Lighting.
Documents the company sent to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) originally said Cree Lighting would experience a mass layoff or plant closing.
This would affect 172 employees starting last Friday (March 13).
Cree Lighting
But a spokesperson tells FOX6 they're not closing — just restructuring because of manufacturing inefficiencies.
They go on to say employees were furloughed for an extended period of time.
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The spokesperson didn't say whether those furloughed employees still work for the company.
These are questions FOX6 is following up on.
Sturtevant
Meanwhile, FOX6 reached out to the Village of Sturtevant's administrator on the economic impact of United Natural Foods closing.
FOX6 was told they have no comment.
The Source: FOX6 received information from United Natural Foods, Inc., Cree Lighting, and Wisconsin DWD.