AP: Union vote begins Wednesday at huge NC pork plant (Smithfield)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/09/america/Smithfield-Union-Vote.php

TAR HEEL, N.C.: A 16-year confrontation over union representation at the world's largest pork slaughterhouse in the country's least-unionized state comes down to a two-day vote this week.

About 4,600 workers at the Smithfield Packing Co. slaughterhouse and packing plant in Tar Heel, about 80 miles south of Raleigh, will vote Wednesday and Thursday on whether the United Food and Commercial Workers should negotiate for them with the plant's owners, Smithfield, Va.-based Smithfield Foods Inc.

The plant, which employs about 5,000 people, is the size of a major shopping mall at nearly 1 million square feet and draws its labor force from across rural southeast North Carolina.

The operation turns up to 32,000 live hogs a day into plate-ready sliced pork and larger loin segments. Smithfield plans to expand its capacity from about 8.5 million to 9.5 million hogs per year.

Workers complain that the pace it takes to turn out one porker every two seconds leads to repetitive-motion and other injuries. They list tough working conditions, brusque treatment by managers and a desire for higher pay as the top gripes fueling support for the UFCW.

Dewel Delvalle, 38, who has worked for Smithfield for about 10 months, said his top complaint was what he sees as the disrespect of supervisors. The former South Bronx, N.Y., Teamster relocated to North Carolina about five years ago and said he enjoys his new job, where he earns $12.40 an hour, including a 50-cent raise this fall.

FULL story at link.

[underpants]

1. 52% YES to the union!!!!!!!! HUGE win

The 52 percent support for union representation, announced after balloting ended Thursday evening at the plan, which slaughters 32,000 hogs a day and processes them into pork ready for grocery shelves, is a key victory for labor, he said.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/12/12/ap5816523.html