Seventy workers at the Farm Fed Chickens processing plant in Coleraine, Co Derry, are to lose their jobs, the Transport and General Workers' Union in Northern Ireland said last night.
Staff had been told that the workers, part of a workforce of 350, were being paid off because an order had fallen through, said the union.
The union's Mr Gareth Scott said they were worried about both those going and the remaining staff.
"Coleraine is a high unemployment area and it will be particularly difficult for them," Mr Scott said.
There was "deep concern" among the remaining workforce that such a large order had been lost.
"Farm Fed are working hard to try and attract new orders and maybe increase orders they already have," he said.
Mr David McClarty of the Ulster Unionist Party said he would be contacting management to explore all available options. - (PA)