North Carolina: Labor Unions Look to Organize Smithfield Foods
According to the Carolina Newswire:
CHARLOTTE — A massive pork-processing plant near a tiny North Carolina town is the setting for what could be a landmark battle between business and organized labor, according to the April issue of Business North Carolina magazine. The Washington, D.C.-based United Food and Commercial Workers International Union has been battling Virginia-based Smithfield Foods for 16 years over the right to represent workers at the factory near Tar Heel. The union has lost two representation elections during that period but claims the company cheated both times, and it has the backing of the National Labor Relations Board, which has ordered new elections. UFCW wants rules guaranteeing company neutrality with “meaningful sanctions.” The company says the union wants to be able to organize workers without an election, simply by signing cards authorizing it to represent them...click to continue.
