Smithfield Packing ready for union vote |
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Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:54
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TAR HEEL, N.C. (AFX) - Smithfield Packing Co., a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods Inc., the world's largest hog producer, said Friday it is ready for a new union election to be held at its Tar Heel, N.C. plant after reaching an agreement with the National Labor Relations Board.Under terms of the agreement, Smithfield said it would pay $1.1 million in back wages, plus interest, to staffers fired by the company.The agreement stems from a federal court order regarding union elections held at the plant in 1993 and 1997, according to Smithfield.'Even though we disagree with the findings, we have complied with the court's decision and are ready to move forward,' Smithfield Packing President and Chief Executive Joe Luter IV said in a statement. He added it was time for an election so employees can vote on whether they want a union or not.Smithfield said it would pay half the cost for an independent observer to oversee the election.The United Food & Commercial Workers International union has been trying to unionize the Tar Heel plant for more than 15 years, Smithfield said. In two previous votes employees voted against the union.The National Labor Relations Board is a federal agency that, among other things, conducts elections to determine whether employees want union representation.Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Smithfield Packing to hold union vote 