Oak Farms Shreveport Plant Closing

Oak Farms Dairy Plant in Shreveport is closing.170 people will lose their jobs. The layoffs will take place over the next two months but the company's keeping about 25 workers for local distribution and sales. We spoke with an employe who had to remain anonymous. "I am the breadwinner in my family and basically I'd have to get out very soon and start looking." After years of operating in Shreveport, oak farms dairy plant is closing. But workers of the plant say before the decision came down there were rumors that something like this could happen. "Once we lost Walmart it appears as if everything really started to go downhill from there."

In an already tough economy these people will be unemployed in Shreveport. Charles Thomas said, the business community around Monkhouse Road will suffer the most. "A lot of times you see everyone going on break to one of the gas stations across the street." The Oak Farms Plant Employee said, "At this point with other companies here in Shreveport laying off and closing of course it makes it extremely difficult to go out and compete as far as the job market is concerned." The plant worker tells KTBS 3 News that the company's management aimed to make it a smooth transition and opened their doors if anyone had questions. "What's the point in opening the door when the main door that we walked through is being shut, so we have no questions because at this point it's over, it's done."

Dean Foods, the company that owns Oak Farms will offer severance packages--but it 's only a week's pay for each year worked. The company will move production to other areas in the region and products will still be available in Shreveport. But May 14th will be Shreveport's Oak Farms employees last day.