Pitman Farms rejects workers demand for higher wages

Scores of American Samoan migrant workers who originally came to the mainland for job opportunities at the Pitman Farms turkey processing plant went on a labor strike. The workers-on-strike, which numbered nearly 50 during the demonstration, submitted a petition with written signatures, which entailed the reasons for their strike and what changes they wanted from Pitman Family Farms in order to go back to work.


The workers specified the wage increase they wanted: A boost from $10.50 to $15 per hour. Lynne Roux, HR Manager for Pitman Farms’ Moroni operation, was on hand during the strike trying to convince the workers to return to their stations. “This is not the way to do it,” Roux told the Messenger. “We do not take lightly to strikes. We are happy to have a one on one conversation with each of them about their grievances, but if they’re not willing to come back to work today, we will take it as a voluntary resignation.” Sanpete Messenger

Pitman Farms of California buys Norbest

Pitman Family Farms, a family-owned-and-operated agribusiness centered in California’s San Joaquin Valley, has purchased Norbest, the Moroni turkey growing operation, and will run it alongside its current family businesses. Officials say their goal is restoring the Moroni turkey plant to financial viability and saving the jobs of people who work there. Sanpete Messenger

ACT Aerospace expansion could bring 100 manufacturing jobs to Sanpete County

The owners of ACT Aerospace have made a proposal to the Gunnison City Council to buy 19 acres of city-owned property for a new production facility, which they said would create 100 jobs. The council voted unanimously to move forward with negotiating details of the land sale.

ACT has a potential partner company which has been contracting with aerospace parts producers overseas and wants to bring some of the contracts back to the United States. ACT currently manufactures parts for Bell Helicopter and Honda Aircraft. The expansion would enable the company to do the same kind of work on a larger scale. Sanpete Messenger

GOED Board approves grants to help eight rural businesses

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) Board of Directors approved eight rural Utah businesses for Rural Fast Track grants. The eight projects are expected to create up to 84 new jobs paying 110 and 125 percent of the counties’ average wages.

Approved Central Utah projects are listed below:

Applied Composite Technology (ACT) in Gunnison was awarded a $50,000 grant for purchasing equipment and expanding/altering facilities to meet the needs of new helicopter and aircraft contracts. The company expects to create 15 new full-time positions paying at least 110 percent of the county average wage, 20 new full-time positions paying at least 115 percent and 10 new full-time positions paying at least 125 percent of the county average wage (45 in total).

Diamond S Manufacturing in Ephraim received a $50,000 grant for purchasing a water jet cutting machine to increase production, streamline processes, expand into new markets and offer water jet cutting services to other local businesses. The company expects to create one new full-time position paying at least 110 percent of the county average wage.

Far West Construction in Mt. Pleasant will use its $50,000 grant to help construction a manufacturing facility to increase production capabilities and bring more design and engineering operations in house. The company expects to create three new full-time positions paying at least 110 percent of the county average wage, two new full-time positions paying at least 115 percent and one new full-time positions paying 125 percent (six total).

Dutson Supply Company in Delta received a $25,000 grant toward purchasing a service vehicle that will enable the company to go on-site to repair their disabled trucks. The company expects to create one new full-time positions being paid at least 110 percent of the county average wage. Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Sanpete County Commission considers bond for Moroni Feed

Moroni Feed Co. executives are asking Sanpete County to sponsor a $4.1 million industrial bond to upgrade its feed plant. Kent Christensen, vice president of live production for Moroni Feed, told county commissioners
Tuesday the money would go toward two pelletizing machines that are necessary to keep the business competitive.

The company is seeking a county sponsorship of a “private activity bond” (PAB) from GE Capital. The bond would be secured by the company’s assets, and the county would not be liable for the bond’s repayment. Sanpete Messenger

After slide, Utah’s Moroni co-op back in the black

Moroni Feed Co.’s turkey processing plant is ramping up production after two years of losses, and its Norbest brand has unveiled a line of products for Thanksgiving.

The Moroni Feed Co. cooperative is counting on the additions as it heads toward a record year — expecting to process 100 million pounds of turkey and posting a $4 million profit. The plant, which processes 5 million turkeys annually, had laid off 500 employees in 2008 and shut down production for three months. Losses bottomed out at $9 million that same year, and in 2009 the plant operated in the red by $4 million. The processing plant in Moroni is back on its year-round schedule. A second facility, in Salina, where smoked turkeys, deli breasts, turkey ham, pastrami and other lunch meats are processed, also has increased production. Salt Lake Tribune

Mt. Pleasant may bond to help bring in new business

A fertilizer company from Oklahoma is interested in opening a plant in Mt. Pleasant and a mine in Milburn which, combined, would employ up to 50 workers.
Mt. Pleasant Redevelopment Agency Chairman Monte Bona told the city’s redevelopment board during its Sept. 14 meeting that Humate Technologies was asking the city to sponsor a bond to enable the company to open a fertilizer processing plant in town and reopen a mine in Milburn.

Humate Technologies wants to house its operations in the building formerly occupied by King’s Outdoor World, which manufactures hunting clothing and accessories. Howard Turrel, Humate Technologies CEO, says the company bought the land for its mine in Milburn in 1968. The company operated a pilot research plant in Spanish Fork until the mid eighties. It was closed due to low demand for humates. Since then, the market has improved dramatically, especially on the West Coast. The company will begin design work as soon as the bond is issued, according to Turrel. The mine will be scheduled to reopen in the spring. Sanpete Messenger