More than 150 face layoffs with closing of Lexington plant

More than 150 people in Lexington will lose their jobs by April when a paper and packaging company closes for good.

In a WARN notice sent to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Atlanta-based packaging company WestRock said it was shuttering its facility on Lexington Parkway. One hundred and fifty-three jobs will be lost by the closure.

The company did not say why it was closing. A call to WestRock’s media relations department was not returned by press time. 

Layoffs are expected to begin March 18 and run for two weeks. In a letter to the commerce department, the company said the entire facility will eventually close and the job losses will be permanent unless employees move to positions at other WestRock locations.

There are two WestRock facilities in Winston-Salem and one each in Mebane and Mooresville.

Under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, most companies with more than 100 employees are required to file notice of a closure affecting 50 or more positions. 

The WestRock shutdown marks the first major layoff in the Triad this year based on WARN notices.