Showing posts tagged “Smithfield Packing”

A union contract at Smithfield Packing: It only took 17 years

Bob Geary · 1 Jul 2009, 6:09 PM · Comment

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Congratulations to the union and management at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel, the world’s biggest pork slaughtering and packing plant. After 17 years of pitched company vs. union warfare, the two sides have finally come together on a four-year contract — which was ratified by the workers today.

From now on, it’s Local 1208 of the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers).

The union’s statement is below the fold. Continue reading »

North Carolina, business ,

Smithfield’s workers vote for union

Bob Geary · 12 Dec 2008, 8:17 AM · Comment

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The vote was close, but the third union election at the company’s huge packing plant in Bladen County (30,000-plus hogs killed per day) was the charm. It caps a nearly two decades long fight by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union to organize the plant, against bitter company resistance. Last year, Smithfield sued the union, alleging it had damaged the company’s reputation by sending press releases to the media and financial analysts about the treatment of workers at the plant. The next step will be bargaining for a contract. The union’s statement is below. Continue reading »

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