(JTA) — The kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, is planning to hire 150 workers as it expands its poultry line and restarts beef production.
The announcement by the owner of Agri Star Meat and Poultry, formerly known as Agriprocessors, came last Friday.
Agriprocessors was in bankruptcy last fall when it was purchased by Agri Star Meat.
Agriprocessors had more than 1,000 employees and was the country’s largest producer of kosher meat before a massive immigration raid in May 2008 led to its demise. The new plant currently employs 400 people, according to the Des Moines Register.
The new workers will be paid about $8.50 an hour to start, rising to $9.50 to $12.50 an hour after a probationary period, a company spokesman told the Register. In late December, the plant laid off a number of higher-paid workers.
Beef production should start in a few weeks, according to a company news release.
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