Kewanee’s largest employer, Great Dane on Kentville Road, informed workers on Thursday that voluntary lay-offs were planned, a source with knowledge of the plant-wide meeting told The Kewanee Voice.
The source also said that if not enough employees took a voluntary layoff to meet the company’s needs, more would be laid off in order of seniority.
The source did not mention the number of workers to be laid off.
The reason for the layoffs include the loss of a large account, the source said. Also cited was an increase, caused by tariffs, in the cost of raw materials for building trailers.
The layoffs are to last at least six months or until the financial situation turns around, according to the source.
The Kewanee Voice attempted to confirm the layoffs with officials at the Kewanee plant. A spokesperson at the plant said the request for comment had been sent to the officials who were authorized to release the information.
As of late Friday afternoon, the officials had not responded to the request.
Great Dane manufacturers trailers that are used for transporting goods across various industries.
**This is a developing story and will be updated should more information become available.
