Former employees of United Furniture Industries, operating under the Lane Furniture brand name, say they were blindsided overnight after receiving either an email or text message instructing them not to report to work Tuesday because their jobs were being immediately terminated “due to unforeseen business circumstances.”
“At the instruction of the board of directors of United Furniture Industries Inc. and all subsidiaries, we regret to inform you that due to unforeseen business circumstances, the company has been forced to make the difficult decision to terminate the employment of all its employees, effective immediately, on Nov. 21, 2022,” according to the statement to employees obtained by FreightWaves.
Some employees questioned the timing of UFI’s mass firing, which comes two days before Thanksgiving.
However, over-the-road truck drivers for furniture delivery division UFI Transportation who are currently making deliveries “will be paid for the balance of the week,” the company stated in the letter to workers.
According to the UFI statement, it directs truckers with loads to “immediately return equipment, inventory and delivery documents for those deliveries that have been completed to one of the following locations: Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Verona, Mississippi; or Victorville, California.”
It’s unclear how many employees were affected by the privately held company’s decision to fire its remaining workforce.
According to the Federal Motor Safety Administration’s SAFER website, UFI has 40 power units and 42 drivers.
Top exec remains silent on closure
Todd Evans, CEO of UFI, did not immediately respond to FreightWaves’ request seeking comment about what precipitated the mass firing.
In late July, the furniture manufacturer closed its plants in Winston-Salem and High Point, North Carolina, resulting in more than 270 workers losing their jobs, according to WARN Act notices filed at the time with the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
Another 220 jobs were eliminated in late July at the company’s plant in Amory, Mississippi.
One former employee, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said the company immediately canceled workers’ health insurance and COBRA coverage.
“Luckily, I am in a position where I will survive,” the former employee posted on social media. “But shame on you Lane Furniture-United Furniture for making sure employees will struggle this winter.”
James “Rooster” Bowen contributed to this report.
This is a developing story.
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Ted Swedish
Everyone blamed Trump now Everyone blames Biden, The difference is Biden did start the downward spiral by doing something that caused gasoline prices to rocket up starting a recession we may be in till 2025
Tamal Raheem
I love all the Idiots blaming the President because these Private Truck Companies are Mismanaged!!! You people are unbelievable and live in a World that shouldn’t exist.
Cadence Fleming
After that, we started looking for the main reason why
Cory C Walker
If I was a driver….I know one truck that they wouldn’t see again.
John Meckel
More Blatant Proof that the The Massive Economic Failures of Beijing Joe and His Tyrannical Communist Clown Show Regime, as They Are Destroying Industries and Businesses Throughout Our Entire Country!
In the Face of these Unending Tragic Loses of Business & Employment, They Boldly Continue To Deny Everything! INSANITY!
Leroy l.
Well this can all be the fault of the leftists and biden for cutting of drilling ,pipline work ,coal mining ,iterrupting and hurting the fossil fuel supplies ,hurting the farmers and Ranchers . The slaughter factories (packing houses) are paying less for cattle but turning around and charging us the consumers higher prices than ever before fuel prices out the roof .no one to blame except that thing in the white house . Hes killing our country.
Jack
I really do miss the teamsters union.
Earl
At least they didn’t do what Celadon and so many others did and leave drivers stranded clear across the country searching for a way home.