ConAgra announced last week in a meeting with its employees it would cut nearly 300 positions at the Garner location as a direct result from the June 9 explosion on Jones Sausage Road. The cuts are set to come in mid-November and would be based on seniority.

While the company has been paying all employees for 40-hour weeks since the accident, it has cut back production at the Garner location by nearly 50 percent.

Corporate Communication Director Stephanie Childs said the decision was difficult be necessary.

“This has been a difficult time for all of us since the accident on June 9,” she said.

Childs said the company hopes the two months of advanced notice will help employees to make arrangements for employment elsewhere.

However, she said, the cuts are governed by ConAgra’s contract with the union and those employees cut will be the first called when a position comes available.

Mayor Ronnie Williams said he joins the employees in their frustration.

“I was disappointed,” he said. “I was in a state of surprise for some time after the initial announcement.”

However, Williams said, there is an upside.

“At least ConAgra is going to keep 400 employees,” Williams said.

Williams has gotten approval from the company to hold a job fair on the ConAgra campus. He plans to work with the Garner Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to give exposure to employees in hopes they will be able to find jobs before the layoff.