Immigration Agents Raid Swift (meat) Plants Across U.S.

[rodeodance]

http://cbs4denver.com/national/topstories_story_346113220.html

Dec 12, 2006 9:28 am US/Mountain

Immigration Agents Raid Swift Plants Across U.S.
Illegal Immigrants Charged In Alleged ID Theft Scheme

(CBS) GREELEY, Colo. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided six facilities belonging to Swift & Company across the United States Tuesday morning, including the Swift & Company meat packaging facility in Greeley. ICE said the operation was part of a worksite enforcement investigation that found an alleged large identity theft scheme.

Witnesses on the scene in Greeley reported the plant had been shut down by a large police presence. Multiple buses were there to apparently take away the suspects.

Authorities said the ID theft scheme had victimized a large number of United States citizens and lawful residents.

ICE agents executed the court-authorized warrants at Swift's processing facilities in Greeley; Grand Island, Neb.; Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn. The civil warrants allowed ICE agents to search for and apprehend any illegal immigrant workers.

..............

[EFerrari]

1. Must have been pay day.

How many US citizens get picked up? Any bets?

[acmavm]

9. Are you serious? Or what? Did you miss this part?

<snip>

Evidence uncovered during the ICE investigation, which began in February 2006, indicated that large numbers of illegal immigrants may have illegally assumed the identities of U.S. citizens or lawful U.S. residents and improperly used their Social Security numbers to gain employment at Swift facilities.

<snip>

Not only were they here illegally, there was identity theft involved. Apparently you think that is okay.

Sometimes the things people post are absolutely astounding. And apparently being an illegal alien who is using someone else's identity is fine. They're the victim.

[EFerrari]

15. You must be easily astounded. The upshot is, undocumented

workers pay into Social Security funds that they will never collect on.

That's what happens in the real world. So, the "victim" winds up with money in their account that they didn't earn.

:)

[acmavm]

19. You must be clowning around with that answer. The problem

is the illegals not being able to collect social security while they're here illegally using someone else's identity, again illegally?

That's so pathetic it's I almost feel sorry for you.

[EFerrari]

25. No, the problem is that not having a guest worker program

puts all workers at risk.

Have a nice day! :hi:

[mikehiggins]

57. Huh?

How would the lack of a guest worker program put me at risk?

Seems to me that makes no sense at all.

I was born in this country, my parents were born in this country, my grandparents legally emigrated to this country, etc., etc., yet I had to PROVE my citizenship to keep my job in NYC where presently anywhere between 10% and 35% of construction workers are illegals, depending on the trade involved.

The only thing that puts me at risk is that illegals are willing to work for much less money, with no benefita and no safety rules.

Want to protect me? Keep the illegals out.

[EFerrari]

59. Well, Mike, blaming undocumented workers only gets you so far

doesn't it? Your life hasn't changed much since you posted that post, has it?

And you will never keep those people out, ever. They are hungry and people hire them.

[silverojo]

47. To sfexpat2000:

1) They wouldn't be "victims" in the first place, if they were here legally. Criminals don't have the rights that law-abiding people have.

2) Identity theft is a crime, as well.

It's pretty racist to think it's OK for just one race to commit crimes without facing any consequences.

[EFerrari]

60. Please go back and reread my post.

The "victims" I referred to were people whose social security numbers were being used without their knowledge or permission.

Have a nice day, silverojo.

[crikkett]

48. I'm sure they're not as comfy as you are in your nice warm home

The astounding part of your post (aside from dismissing the fact that illegal workers won't have jobs if exploitive employers don't hire them,) is that you don't realize that these workers had to buy their fake ID from the actual (probably actual American) criminal or criminal organization which stole the American ID. But it is easier for you to vilify the poor brown person whose aim is only to *work* to *feed themselves.*

[zreosumgame]

16. nah, Swift forgot to send the check to the GOP

[EFerrari]

18. That probably a good guess. n/t

[havocmom]

2. Hmm,

:popcorn:

[Donnachaidh]

3. must get more popcorn!

thanks for the reminder havocmom! :headbang:

[physioex]

4. Yep.....

If you watched the PETA videos, it is completely amazing the terrible conditions that these people work under for less than minimum wage not to mention the way the animals get treated. And when the owners of the company get huge profits of the illegal workers we get stuck paying for their childrens schooling and making up for the social safety net.

[Bridget Burke]

5. Where I live, schools are mostly paid for by property tax...

And if you don't think that renters pay for every increase, I guess you've never had a landlord. Sales tax also hits everybody.

I don't have kids. But I don't begrudge a cent of my tax money that goes for public schools.

[physioex]

8. I have no problems funding public education....

I am a renter myself however I feel that the burden share for public education is carried by individual homeowners. I am not so much into blaming the illegal workers as I am the owners of the companies that take advantage of their situation.

[dmallind]

12. Huge profits?

Swift is currently bleeding money and in its most recent profitable year EBITDA was less than 2% of revenue.

The kneejerk assumption on these boards that corporations are always hugely profitable is so rarely challenged that it becomes axiomatic. This is certainly not accurate.

Yes hugely profitable and rapacious companies exist and I would not dream of denying it. But so do cash-strapped and non-profitable companies who still employ people.

[physioex]

14. Hmm.....

I can't argue the financial facts. And no doubt that there are many corporations that are in serious financial trouble like Ford and General Motors. However I doubt the company board, and CEOs are struggling to make ends meet while the workers are being shown the door.

[dmallind]

21. Not arguing with that at all

I am all for limiting or at the least taxing appropriately at both ends absurd executive compensation.

Even there though I think too many people tend to look at the dollars and not the numbers of people involved. Just to use Swift as an example and looking at their recent SEC filings, if you eliminated the top 5 executives COMPLETELY and spread their compensation amongst all employees equally each would get about $4.80 a week extra pre-tax. The #5 highest paid executive there BTW is looking at $320K a year including bonus - a tidy sum indeed and one I would be pleased to earn, but I don't think we're looking at a Dennis K. scenario here.

Again, do that same exercise for a Wall Street investment firm for example and you'll get very much more meaningful numbers, but food processing and manufacturing probably aren't good places to look for corporate excess for the most part - although exceptions of course exist.

[warrens]

28. Swift paid $200K fine for being too tough on ID

It's a very tough industry. Ask too much, you're discriminating. Ask too little, you're a greedy corp exploiting immigrants and breaking the law. Swift is one of the good guys, IMO.

[Critters2]

35. Swift is a greedy corp exploiting immigrants and breaking the law

It's well-known. If Swift is a good guy, your standards are way too low.

[Critters2]

31. What are they paying their CEO?

I doubt he's starving.

[physioex]

42. If there is any one constant in this universe....

It would be CEO salary............

[alarimer]

53. profitable or not, they are still exploiting their workers

by hiring illegals at shit wages. They hire they because they will work for a lot less money and not complain about the horrendous (and illegal) working conditions. Good that the government is doing something. The only way to end illegal immigration is to dry up the jobs. In my opinion, Swift needs to have their entire operation confiscated and the upper management thrown into jail. But this will just result in a slap on the wrist.

[Critters2]

30. But it provides cheap meat, which is all Americans care about

God forbid we should pay what a product is really worth.

[physioex]

43. Yea.....That's my point.

How can you go to Mickey D's and get burger, fries, and a drink cheaper than a healthier meal with vegetables and fruits which takes less resources to produce?

[saigon68]

6. They should JAIL the Managers and Corporate officers

Responsible.

The documents need only to have dry ink on them.

Hiring these people is a joke.

Tomorrow they will hire 500 more to replace those who got deported.

And in 2 weeks 50% will have returned to work.

See Pocho.com

[havocmom]

7. Yep. Until the get serious about locking up the owners for long stretches

the whole thing is for show.

[CheshireCat]

20. Simple Solution: Go after companies hiring illegals immigrants

and put them in jail. havocmom, I agree with your solution.

Until the government decides to go after those companies hiring illegal immigrants, it's all just a joke. Make it illegal to hire someone in this country illegally. Wait - it's already illegal! But with minor penalties - the fines are just a small cost of "doing business". Put these mf's in prison and keep them there long enough to disrupt their cushy lives. Fine the hell out of them, too. The employers are the ones creating the problem. Or should I say problems? We all know why they hire illegal immigrants. So they can pay them "slave" wages with no benefits and terrible working conditions. By doing so, American's are being left without jobs that they can afford to take.

Never doubt the reason for hiring these poor illegal immigrants! This is their most successful tactic in the war against the middle class.

I get furious at how all the blame and hatred is put on these poor people who are only trying to take care of their families. As long as there are jobs for them in the US, they will keep coming. Who can blame them?! Wouldn't most of us do the same thing under these circumstances?

So what if they get services at taxpayers expense. They ARE human beings. Most of my anger is aimed at the greedy corporations that refuse to pay a living wage. The rest of my anger is reserved for our government that refuses to acknowledge where the blame belongs. The US government kisses the feet of their corporate masters while stirring up hate and resentment toward the poor people coming to the US who are only trying to support their loved ones.


Take away the jobs and there will be no reason for illegal immigrants to come to this country!

[peacetalksforall]

10. Through how many administrations and how many generations has

our government looked away because of lobbying by corporations with tumbling benefits to small businesses, also.

Everyone knew it and went along with it.

Now, this right wing administration has turned on their corporate partners because of their juggling act of keeping all their voting bases happy.

It all boils down to which corporate former friend they choose to turn on?

I don't regret benefits to any group who work as hard as our grandparents and great grandparents worked when they came here - they do pay their way and it is unbelievably unfair to turn on them overnight without trying to get perceived and real problems straightened out humanely.

They were welcome by the act of looking away because our government looked away.

But, the real truth is that our barons and rulers have turned on all of us so that they cto reach their third country conversion to- rich & very rich and poor & very poor. Just like the countries we've kept in World Bank and IMF debt, but with riches for the leaders who played the game right and their friends.

[High Plains]

11. We need a guest worker program.

Immigrant labor is an ongoing part of our economy. It should be regularized.

[warrens]

13. Seriously

Even illegals won't do most of these jobs for long. Hard work for mediocre pay. Guest workers might be an answer; work six months, home six months. That way the employer would get skilled labor that doesn't quit after a few months, and workers get regular employment legally.

[Critters2]

36. Improve working conditions, improve wages

How hard is that?

[mikehiggins]

58. And those pesky union workers get screwed

It amazes me how predicatable people can be. Outsourcing/illegals only becomes a problem when it affects someone's wallet. As long as its lettuce pickers, who cares? Once you start in on the white collar jobs it becomes a crisis.

[EFerrari]

17. I agree. What is happening now is crazy and just puts workers

of all kinds at all kinds of risks.

[w4rma]

22. No we don't. We need to force these companies to raise wages by depriving them

of desperate people.

Allow the 'free' market to push wages and benefits and safety standards up without throwing a monkeywrench in it to suppress them.

[warrens]

24. Even with higher wages

Many of these plants would be begging for workers. Skinning and cutting up large animals is really nasty, hard work. These plants are unionized and pay pretty reasonable wages (in the teens and more for really experienced people).

[Critters2]

33. Raise the wages, and then see.

Right now, we're assuming no one would do this work for a fair wage. First, let's raise the pay. If that doesn't help, then we can look for other solutions.

[hedgehog]

45. I've heard that the unions and high wages are a thing of the past.

Oddly enough, that the unions were broken and wages dropped when there was an influx of cheap illegal labor. Hmmm....

[Critters2]

32. We need to pay workers what they're worth.

Once jobs are filled with fairly-paid citizens and legal immigrants, THEN we can start to consider a guet worker program.

Cheap labor is NOT the answer.

[hedgehog]

44. Why guest worker status?

Why not raise the immigration quotas? Given that immigration from Mexico ballooned shortly after NAFTA dumped cheap US corn on the Mexican market, it seems the least we can do.

[Bridget Burke]

49. Because guest workers won't cause "trouble"....

Legal workers who could eventually win citizenship might start asking for more money & better working conditions. Can't have that. At least, that's what the business leaders & their pet politicians think.

[Critters2]

56. Better yet, why not raise wages? nt

[treestar]

23. OH, thank God. Now Americans can take those jobs

And the wages and working conditions will improve immediately.

:sarcasm:

After all, Americans have rights, you know.

[AnneD]

26. Years ago...

when Americans had jobs, meat packing was a union job, paid good wages and damn straight folks took those jobs. The INS also raided companies routinely for illegals. The Amnesty Bill was suppose to legalize the illegals that were here and they were suppose to crack down on companies that hired illegal immigrants. Well, Unions are suppressed, wages are kept artificially low in sectors that hire illegals with impunity, and I'm suppose to sit back and take it-hell no. I am not a minute man but I do want to see more enforcement on companies that hire illegals. After all they are illegals. If companies get their wages up to what they should be, and work conditions be made more humane-more Americans will take those jobs. I remember when I was unemployed...I would have taken anything. If employers HAVE to hire Americans, they will. Americans can then earn incomes to support themselves and their community. They can pay taxes and contribute instead of disappearing into the statistical unemployment woodwork like they do.

[High Plains]

29. Swift is hiring--go for it!

They had an ad in my local paper for the Worthington, MN, plant yesterday--and that was before the raids. I'm sure there are job openings now.

[Critters2]

34. At union wages? I don't think so. nt

[Bridget Burke]

51. So work with the union people in your area.

Organize.

[AnneD]

54. I'm a Nurse...

I have more jobs than you can shake a stick at(one regular and one per diem)-oh and one of my jobs I am in the union (volunteer jobs include building building steward, political action committee, nursing task force, and voter registration).

Back when minimum wage was 2-3 dollars, meat packers were making $13 and up. It was a respected trade (my neighbour supported his family and put himself through school working for Armour in Ft Worth). Read Fast Food Nation to get a sense of what is was then and what it is now.

The hospital administrators are trying to do to the Nurses what other business' have done to every descent job in this country-break down the skill levels into units that anyone can master. It will meet with the same outcome-repetitive trauma and job related injuries for workers, poor quality of product (or outcome in the case of nursing), but hey, their bottom line will look better because they are not paying for that skilled employee that they use to pay. And that is what it is really about-a race to the bottom of the wage pool. Companies don't want to pay a fair and just wage to an American worker when they can pay next to nothing for illegal immigrants.

So far they have managed to destroy meat packing, small farming, construction, landscaping, boilermakers (welders), and programing to name a few.

[rebel with a cause]

37. Years ago

The native people of this land watched as the Europeans came illegally to take their land and to destroy their way of life. Unable to fight the tide of white faces that arrived on ships from across the ocean, the native people were pushed north, south and west. They were pushed onto land that the white man did not want and left to survive the best they could as long as they did not tread on the white man's territory.

Forgive me that I don't feel the outrage against illegals that you do because many of these people are only returning to the land of their ancestors and to the land that was taken from them.

It is easy for many of us to feel superior, after all our ancestors were the victors and we have profited from the native people's loss.

[Critters2]

39. Don't romanticize it. These workers are just producing cheap meat,

for fat, uncaring Americans. They're just cogs in the machine. They're not benefitting from their "return to the land of their ancestors", the CEO of Swift is. And attitudes like yours reinforce their exploitation.

[rebel with a cause]

40. Okay, let me make this clear

I was referring to the over simplification of the way it use to be in the earlier post and the anger toward people coming here illegally. Nothing to do with the cheap meat or said factory. My attitude adds nothing to their exploitation because I do not agree with any corporation's exploitation of workers from either side of the border. I was a union member in the old days and am a believer in worker rights. The first job I held at a non-union factory, I was shocked at the way the workers were treated. Not too much worse than some of the union factories I had worked at, but you were paid based on what they wanted to pay you individually. As a white american, my wages were much higher than my Latino (legal) co-workers who had worked there for years. After only two weeks on the job, I was told to supervise my co-workers who knew ten times as much as I did about the job. I did very little supervising and a lot of co-operation. Now tell me what you want about my views, but I will continue to believe that as descendents of immigrants we have no right to throw stones at others who desperately want to come here to work.

[Bridget Burke]

50. So--companies should hire only Americans?

Remember, there are legal immigrants. Do you also have preferences about what sort of Americans ought to be hired?

Here in Texas, we have sales tax. Everybody pays. And property tax; yes, landlords DO raise rents when taxes go up. So--everybody pays.

[physioex]

62. WTF??

Isn't that what the law says? Yes, hire only legal workers and pay them a livable wage. Or create some type of guest worker program.

[lovuian]

27. The company is taking advantage of workers and they

need to be fined as well as ilegal immigrants deported

Thats what other countries do

In America the worker pays taxes and gets certain protections

thats what this company is doing along with a bunch of other countries outsourcing

Their day is coming in the reckoning of the American People SCREAMING in a DEPRESSION for a JOB

We are in for some tough times people

[cosmicdot]

38. Swift ownership; earning info, etc.

Swift and Company is owned by Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furstand Booth Creek Management Corporation according to its website.

some general info about Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst
`````````````````````````````````````````````````

Hicks, Muse, et al AKA HMTF, HM Capital is headquartered in ...... (surprise) Dallas, Texas.

A Senior Advisor is: The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, who is, also, associated with Barrick Gold, Poppy's gold mining friend (see Palast: Poppy Strikes Gold)

HM Capital is similar to the Carlyle Group and the Blackstone Group being a private equity investment entity with little to no transparency in 'investors' or other information public trading companies files with the Securities & Exchange Commission.


"A son of a radio station owner, Tom Hicks became interested in leveraged buyouts as a member of First National Bank's venture capital group. Hicks and Robert Haas formed Hicks & Haas in 1984; the next year that firm bought Hicks Communications, a radio outfit run by Hicks' brother Steven. (This would be the first of many media companies bought or created by the buyout firm, often with Steven Hicks' involvement.)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hicks,_Muse,_Tate_&_Furst

Thomas "Tom" Hicks (born 1946) is a Dallas businessman who owns and operates Southwest Sports Group, the company that owns the Texas Rangers (whom Hicks purchased from an investment group that included then-Texas Governor George W. Bush), the Dallas Stars and the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. Hicks previously co-founded the investment firm, Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst in the late 1980s, but announced that he would leave the firm on March 8, 2004 to spend more time with his family and his sports teams, and then he took it back, which created quite a controversy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Hicks


"Conveniently for both men, Bush appointed Hicks as the first chair to UTIMCO, which began the tradition of tit-for-tat management and good-ol' boy favoritism that has defined the relationship between UTIMCO and Texas politics since. In 1998, Hicks would make Bush a multi-millionaire by purchasing the Texas Rangers. In addition, Hicks' company, Hicks, Muse, Tate, & Furst, Inc., is now Bush's number 4 career patron. The company is still donating to the GOP; Rick Perry has received $283,481 from Hicks Muse, with another $176,500 coming from Charles Tate . Hicks's brother Steven has also thrown in $138,516."
http://www.utwatch.org/utimco/hicks.html
http://www.tpj.org/pioneers/r_hicks.html

Swift Company Ownership
````````````````````````

In September 2002, Swift & Company was created when Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Incorporated (“HMTF”) and Booth Creek Management Corporation acquired majority interest in the fresh beef and pork processing business of ConAgra Foods, Inc. The ownership group purchased the balance of ConAgra Foods’ interest in Swift & Company in September 2004.

The deal makes Swift & Company the second-largest processor of both beef and pork in the world, and the leading Australian beef processor.

http://www.swiftbrands.com/about/ownership.php


Internet search of Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst SourceWatch:

-Furst is a Trustee at the Aspen Institute.

-Kissinger was named European adviser to Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, the latest Washington power broker to join a major U.S. private equity firm (May 31, 2002).


Earning info from Press Release
````````````````````````````````

SWIFT & COMPANY REPORTS FIRST-QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS
(note: EBITDA = Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization)

Net Sales Up 8 Percent to $2.6 Billion, EBITDA Up 84 Percent to $53 Million
On Strength of Beef Segment

GREELEY, COLO., October 3, 2006 – Swift & Company, the world’s second-largest processor of fresh beef and pork products, today reported net sales of $2.59 billion for its fiscal first quarter ended August 27, 2006, up 7.7 percent from net sales of $2.40 billion in the comparable prior-year period. The Company’s net sales increase reflects an 11.6 percent net sales gain in Swift Beef, a 4.5 percent net sales increase in Swift Pork, and a 0.6 percent net sales decline in Swift Australia. Swift Australia net sales were adversely affected by a 1.2 percent decrease in the Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate compared to the prior-year period.

http://www.swiftbrands.com/media/releases/FY07Q1_Press_Release.pdf


Board of Directors
``````````````````

Joe Colonnetta

Joe Colonnetta Jr. became a director of Swift Operating in September 2002 and also is a director of Swift Holdings. He has been a partner at Hicks Muse since December 2002 and previously was a principal at Hicks Muse from January 1998 to December 2002. From September 1994 to January 1998, he was a partner with Resource Management Partners (RMP), a management partner to institutional and private equity firms investing in food and consumer related portfolio companies, where he served as interim Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at various times. From January 1992 to September 1994, he was the Chief Financial Officer of The Restaurant Company, the operator of the Perkins Restaurant and Bakery chain. He also serves as a director of Swift Foods Company, Cooperative Computing, Inc., Home Interiors & Gifts, Inc., Safeguard Systems, Minsa Mexico (an agri-business), Veltri Metal Products and Zilog, Inc.

George Gillett Jr.

George N. Gillett Jr. became Chairman of the Board and a director of Swift Operating in September 2002. He is Chairman of the Board and President of Booth Creek Management Corp., a company with investments in a wide variety of businesses, since founding the Company in 1996. He also is Chairman of Booth Creek Ski Holdings, Inc. since its formation in October 1996 and Chief Executive Officer since February 1997. From August 1994 to July 2001, he served as Chairman of Packerland Packing Company, Inc., a meat packing company. From January 1997 to February 2000, he served as Chairman of Corporate Brand Foods America, Inc., a processor and marketer of meat and poultry products, which was acquired by IBP, Inc.

more: "Gillett currently serves as chairman of Booth Creek Management Corp. and managing partner of the Gillett Family Partnerships, which control or have investments in a variety of businesses: the Montreal Canadiens and the Molson Centre; Northland Services, Inc., a marine transportation company; Great Northern Bark Company, a manufacturer of lawn and garden products; and the recreation/leisure group, which includes Booth Creek Ski Holdings, Inc., Grand Targhee Ski and Summer Resort, and numerous golf courses."
http://www.habsworld.net/GeorgeGillett.php

wiki info on Gillette - http://tinyurl.com/u5aml
preview TinyURL: http://preview.tinyurl.com/u5aml
<edit to fix this link>

Edward Herring

Edward Herring became a director of Swift Operating in May 2005. He is a Principal of Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, Incorporated. He joined HMTF in 1998 and has been involved in a variety of investment transactions spanning multiple industry sectors. Most recently, he has been instrumental in the development and execution of the firm's energy and food sector investment initiatives. In the energy sector, he was extensively involved in the firm's investment in Triton Energy and, most recently, the acquisitions of BlackBrush Oil & Gas, Inc. and Regency Gas Services LLC. Similarly, he has played an active role in execution and oversight of the Firm's investment in Swift & Company in 2002. In 2000, he led the structuring and execution of the recapitalization process for Viasystems, the Firm's electronics contract manufacturing platform. He also serves as a director for Regency Gas Services LLC and BlackBrush Oil & Gas, Inc. Prior to joining HMTF, he was an investment banker with Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Mike Kelly

Michael D. Kelly became a director of Swift Operating in April 2003. He served as the Executive Vice President, Marketing of The Restaurant Company, the operator of the Perkins Restaurant and Bakery chain from February 1993 until February 2003.

Kate Lavelle

Kate S. Lavelle became a director of Swift Operating in December 2004. She recently became the Chief Financial Officer of Dunkin Brands, Inc. Previously, she was Global Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of LSG Sky Chefs. From 1987 to 1998, she was employed at Arthur Andersen, LLP.

John Muse

John R. Muse became a director of Swift Operating in September 2002 and is also a director of Swift Holdings. He has been a partner and member of the management committee of Hicks Muse since co-founding the firm in 1989. Prior to forming Hicks Muse in 1989, he headed the merchant / investment banking operations of Prudential Securities in the Southwestern region of the United States. He also serves as a director of Swift Foods Company, Dean Foods Company, Arena Brands Holding Corp., Burtons Foods, Eurotax / Glass, Media Capital, Pinnacle Foods, Premier International Foods Plc and Yell.

Sam Rovit

Sam Rovit was named president and chief executive officer of Swift & Company in May 2005. He became a director of Swift Operating and Swift Holdings in July 2005. Prior to joining Swift, he headed the global mergers and acquisitions practice for Bain & Company, leading strategy consultants. He is a leading expert in food industry value-creation strategies, and has provided counsel to many of the largest companies in the food industry.

http://www.swiftbrands.com/about/bod.php


HM Capital Realized Investments
````````````````````````````````

The Morningstar Group, Inc.
Dairy & non-dairy food products

Hat Brands
Western headwear and accessories

G. Heilman Brewing Co.
Alcoholic beverage

Heritage Brands, Inc.
Branded food products

Ghirardeli Chocolate Co.
Retailer & manufacturer of premium chocolates

International Home Foods
Branded food products

G.H. Mumm/Perrier Jouët
Alcoholic beverages

Premier International Foods
UK branded food products

Pinnacle Foods Corporation
Branded food products

Chancellor Media Corporation
Radio stations

Capstar Communications
Radio stations

Clear Channel
Radio stations/television stations/
outdoor advertising

Marcus Cable Company, L.P.
Cable television

Mandeville Cable Argentina
Cable television

American Tower
Towers

Yell/McLeod Directories
UK & US yellow pages

Niche
Manufacturing

Wirekraft/Burcliff Industries
Insulated wire

Jackson Products
Safety products

Berg Electronics
Electronic connectors

Crain Industries
Foam insulation

International Wire Group
Insulated & barb wire

Atrium Corporation
Building products

Vidrio Formas
Specialty bottles

Microtune, Inc.
Digital tuners

Courtesy Corporation
Plastic enclosures

Life Partners Group, Inc.
Life Insurance

Neodata Corporation
Magazine fulfillment

Seguros Comercial America
Property & casulty insurance

CorpGroup (Cayman) Limited
Retail banking

Trident NGL, Inc.
Natural gas liquids processor

riton Energy Ltd.
Oil & natural gas producer

http://www.hmcapital.com/firm.html


:pooped:

[hedgehog]

46. Perhaps this explains why Swift is losing money?

When someone stated that upthread, my immediate reaction was that someone was cooking the books somehow.

[madrchsod]

41. meat packing plants are at the bottom of all industrial jobs

there is no place that is more dangerous than these hell holes. it is a place where only a few can work and only a few ever retire from. the meat packing industry has always been a first job for a lot of immigrants through out the history of this country. it is a shame that no one cares about what happens to these people and their families.

[cap]

52. how about foreign aid to develop Latin America so people

dont risk their necks coming over here in the first place. how about not supporting corporations and governments that oppress their workers overseas?

[EFerrari]

61. How about the US stops subverting democracy in Latin America

for once? :)

[Critters2]

55. They used to be good-paying union jobs.

Always hard work, but there was a time when workers were paid a wage commensurate with the harsh task. Then Swift and its ilk discovered undocumented workers, who would work for nothing, and never complain about working conditions.

Of course, all of that is done to keep meat prices down, because Americans can't live without cheap meat. If you eat factory-produced meat, you bear ultimate responsibility for this situation.

This is just one more reason why I don't eat meat.