The Workers' Rights project of the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights stands in solidarity with the Justice at Smithfield campaign. The company in Tar Heel, N.C., has been found liable of physically assaulting workers, threatening bodily harm, and causing the false arrest of workers for exercising their legal rights. As the largest meat processing facility in the world, the Midwest Coalition believes that by holding this company accountable we begin to be able to change the way the industry operates as a whole.
Smithfield Foods is a global food company, with an annual revenue of about $12 billion. Their products may be household favorites, yet this company is notoriously known for having created an environment of intimidation, racial tension, fear and sometimes, violence, for workers at their packaging plants.
Human Rights Watch has cited Smithfield Packing for violating international human rights standards in two reports, Unfair Advantage in 2002 and Blood, Sweat, and Fear in 2005. According to Human Rights Watch, Smithfield has violated the rights of workers' to organize a union, denied workers compensation to injured workers and retaliated against workers for reporting injuries. Racial tensions have also been stirred by Smithfield management, in order to keep workers from uniting.
The Justice for Smithfield campaign was the result of the workers’ desire to have a voice on the job. Working in conjunction with the UFCW, this campaign seeks to bring the constant racism, discrimination, and worker abuse to an end.
To read more about the Justice for Smithfield campaign and a depiction of working conditions at the Smithfield plant, check out this article from the Chicago Sun-Times.
You can also visit their website at www.smithfieldjustice.org!
Source: Justice for Smithfield, UFCW
