Fed Up With Conditions, Smithfield Workers Walk Off The Job (largest pork processing plant in the wo

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/4669

Fed Up With Conditions, Smithfield Workers Walk Off The Job

Workers at the largest pork processing plant in the world walked off the job Thursday, finally fed up with the company’s union busting tactics. Jesse Russell has more:

Without a strike vote or any notice to management, more than 500 workers walked off the job at Smithfield’s meatpacking plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina. The plant has long been a contentious battlefield between the company and attempts to organize the plants more than 1,000 workers. Multiple labor law violations have been documented at the plant, with workers being fired and or beaten for attempting to organize. According to the United Food and Commercial Workers Smith field campaign director Gene Bruskin, a rash of recent firings was the last straw:

: This was really...uh...there was a whole series of firings recently and threats of firings and the workers just got fed up and walked out.

Bruskin says the company has been unwilling to meet with workers concerning the walkout:

: As is typical with this company, this company just refuses to respect it’s employees.

The plant has been embroiled in the battle for more than a decade. In the past, Smithfield has threatened to close the plant if workers organize, the company has asked workers to lie to the National Labor Relations Board, and for five years ran an in-house police force - arresting hundreds of workers and union supporters.


AUDIO story here: http://www.laborradio.org/files/lo/winsheadlines.ram

[Ms. Clio]

1. Thanks for posting

I had no idea.

No more Smithfield ham steaks in this household until they change their 19th century ways.

[Megahurtz]

2. Employers like this are getting too much of an attitude

under Bush's America. We need our Unions back, and more of them!
That anti-Union law is one that the Dems should overturn quick!

[gerrilea]

5. I missed the law you are referring to here...could you post a link?

What anti-union law?

Did I miss something?

I know I work a ton of hours, but I didn't hear of any anti-union law being passed recently...


Thanks for any help.:loveya:

[Omaha Steve]

6. Not really a law, the Kentucky river decision by the NLRB

It took away from about 8 million Americans the right to join or belong to a union. The vote was 3-2 along party lines.

Labor Board Ruling May Bar Millions of Workers from Forming Unions

by James Parks, Oct 3, 2006

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/10/03/labor-board-ruling-may-bar-millions-of-workers-from-forming-unions/

[BrotherBuzz]

9. Word!

:thumbsup:

[AlamoDemoc]

3. Power to the workers ..(n/t)

[madrchsod]

4. hire the illegals!

who else is going to work in the slaughter houses?

[sniffa]

7. They've got my support.

Much respect to the strikers in NC. :headbang:

[bicentennial_baby]

8. Doh! That was me posting...

hehe, didn't realize Sniffa was still logged in...He'd problably agree though :)

[opihimoimoi]

10. Send the pigs to INDIA, or TUVA, or TONGA...out source them jobs...

or, respect the employees....

[pacalo]

11. UFCW: Smithfield workers need your help NOW!

http://ufcwaction.org/campaign/workers_walk_out

[prairierose]

12. Smithfield has been on my boycott list for...

years. About ten years ago they bought the pork processing plant in the town where I lived and closed it overnight. They did not give a hint to the sellers that was their plan. 850 people were thrown out of work overnight. There was a lawsuit about it but I don't think anything positive came out of it.

I try to keep up with all of their marketing entities and do not buy any of their products if I can help it.

:grr:

[lonestarnot]

13. Kick some ass Union!