Jackson Free Press logo

This story originally appeared in the Jackson Free Press. It was added to the Mississippi Free Press website in 2025.
Note that any opinions expressed in legacy Jackson Free Press stories do not reflect a position of the Mississippi Free Press or necessarily of its staff and board members.

More than 62 percent of workers voting in a two-day election at Nissan Motor Co.'s Canton plant voted against the UAW, with 2,244 ballots against the union according to the National Labor Relations Board. Voting for union representation were 1,307 workers, or 38 percent. Photo courtesy Nissan

CANTON, Miss. (AP) — Nissan Motor Co. says fewer contract workers than previously announced were laid off from its Mississippi plant.

The company tells Mississippi officials that it cut 381 contractors on Friday, after reducing production of vans and trucks at the Canton plant. No direct Nissan employees were laid off.

While Nissan projected as many as 700 layoffs, spokeswoman Lloryn Love-Carter says fewer were necessary. Some workers quit on their own and others took buyouts.

About 6,000 employees and contractors now work at Nissan, down from 6,400 in January.

Nissan cut production of NV passenger and cargo vans from two shifts to one on Jan. 25 and cut production of Titan and Frontier pickups from three shifts to two on Feb. 22.

The Japanese automaker is reducing North American production, citing low profits.

Since 1846, The Associated Press has been breaking news and covering the world's biggest stories, always committed to the highest standards of accurate, unbiased journalism. The Associated Press was founded as an independent news cooperative, whose members are U.S. newspapers and broadcasters, steadfast in our mission to inform the world.