NILES — Former workers at a local plant say the company laid them off with just 24 hours notice, and without benefits. The former employees also say United Fixtures violated federal laws and their union agreement.

An estimated 40-50 employees at the United Fixtures plant on Howard Street told WSBT Tuesday was their last day. Many of them said the company left them out in the cold.

The workers said they found out they were losing their jobs when managers called them into a meeting Monday, and said their careers would at United Fixtures would end Tuesday at 3:30.

"I have two kids," said former United Fixtures worker Richard Adams. "Medical, all that is taken away. I have nothing now."

"Our livelihood is gone," said Thomas Couch, also a former employee.

Both Adams and Couch said United Fixtures laid them off after just one day's notice. The company manufactures industrial storage and shelving units.

"A lot of the procedures weren't done correctly in the union's eyes and my fellow membership brothers' eyes," Couch said.

Employees also said their benefits, including health insurance for their families, expire Wednesday. In addition, they claimed the company violated their union agreement and the Federal WARN Act — a public notice required when 50 or more employees are laid off within a month's time.

"[They're] supposed to give at least a 60 day notice," said Thomas Couch.

The company may not be required to comply with that act if fewer than 50 people were let go.

Workers told WSBT the company owes them weeks of vacation time.

"Some people have three, four, five weeks [of vacation]," Couch said. "So we're out of that kind of money."

"News came down from corporate out of Illinois that right now our vacation pay is going to be tied up in bankruptcy court," said Whitfield.

Many of the workers feel abandoned by the Teamsters Local 7.

"Somebody from our local should be here now," said Whitfield as he left work Tuesday afternoon. "We don't have anyone here to support us at all."

They're also frustrated with United Fixtures.

"We made you millions for years and all of a sudden you just pull us out, just slide the rug [our] from under [us]."

WSBT made several phone calls to both the local United Fixtures Human Resources Department and the corporate offices in Illinois Tuesday afternoon.

Our partners at the South Bend Tribune learned the layoffs will not affect the South Bend administration office and distribution center on Quality Drive.