ELBERTON, Ga., Sept 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- More than 5,000 Pilgrim's Pride workers in four states are preparing for what could be the largest mobilization of poultry industry employees faced by the Texas-based company to date. Workers in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Texas are preparing for the worst, that Pilgrim's Pride continues its attack on workers at the bargaining table. Contracts covering almost 25 percent of Pilgrim's Pride production will expire in the next six months.
The August 27, 2004 expiration of the workers' contract at the Elberton, Georgia, plant and the company's refusal to extend the provisions of the same until a new one is reached has sent clear signals to employees about the company's intention to force them onto picket lines. Workers at the company's Lufkin, Texas facility have been working without a contract for three years, despite the repeated attempts by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) to reach a new agreement. Contracts at four other plants are set to expire within the next six months.
Negotiations for a new contract at Elberton, Georgia, are stalled as Pilgrim's Pride's representatives have failed to offer an agreement that does not undermine its employees' living standards.
Pilgrim's Pride's decision not to extend the provisions of the contract at Elberton, Georgia, and its hard-line approach to bargaining in Lufkin, Texas, contrasts with their willingness to extend the contract during negotiations at three other plants. Elberton's employees are increasingly wary of the company's intentions to force them onto the picket lines. The company supplies food products to Wendy's, Arby's, Whataburger, and Wal- Mart stores among other key customers.
"Pilgrim's Pride is wealthy corporation attacking the livelihood of hard working men and women," said Bill Schmitz, UFCW international vice president and director of the food processing, packing and manufacturing division.
"Pilgrim's Pride's defiance of its workforce will meet the full response of the entire UFCW International Union, UFCW local unions and a working rank and file that is willing to defend the gains they have longed struggled for. Together, with community allies, the public and the solidarity of our union brothers and sisters we will fight for the dignity and respect that these workers deserve," added Schmitz.
Pilgrim's Pride employs over 40,000 people in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico and recorded 2.6 billion dollars in sales for 2003, which has doubled due to the acquisition of ConAgra's chicken division in November of 2003.
Posted by UFCW 227 at September 2, 2004 07:19 PM