In updated filings with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Amcor Rigid Plastics said layoffs at its Jefferson City factory will commence through mid-March.
Amcor Rigid Plastics makes hard plastic containers for food, beverage, pharmaceutical and personal care industries at its factory at 1621 Maytag Drive. The company confirmed last week it plans to close its factory in Jefferson City. October filings with the DED stated Amcor planned to lay off 72 employees in two waves beginning Friday and ending on Jan. 15.
New filings received by the DED on Wednesday state the company now plans to lay off remaining employees in four waves Friday, Jan. 15, Feb. 23 and March 15. The vast majority of the layoffs, 52, were expected to happen in the first wave, according to the filings. Eight employees will be laid off Jan. 15; four will be let go Feb. 23; and eight final employees will be laid off March 15.
In November 2016, Australian plastics manufacturer Amcor bought the factory, along with six others from packaging company Sonoco. Last week, Michael Hodges, communications manager of Amcor subsidiary Amcor Rigid Plastics, told the News Tribune the company lost a key customer in the region, which caused the closure.
"We made the acquisition in good faith," Hodges said.
Hodges also said the closure had nothing to do with employees at the Jefferson City factory.
"We've been very pleased," Hodges said. "They serviced our customers very well, and we made that clear."
The company told employees about the plant's closure in July. Hodges said in July the company employed about 120 people.
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 requires companies to give employees at least 60 days' notice in the event of layoffs of 50 or more people. The DED and the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce held meetings, career fairs and resume-building workshops over the past two months to help affected employees.
Amcor also offered some positions to employees willing to relocate and provided assistance to others.