Smithfield Justice

Today Jerry Meek attempted to discretely decline a donation from Smithfield Foods.

Their reaction was typical of Smithfield: threats and intimidation.

It is sadly the truth that Smithfield has gotten away with intimidating their workers for over a decade. While Smithfield may be adept at denying the defenseless a voice, they apparently had less luck with my boss:

Ms. Theresa Kostrzewa
2349 Churchill Road
Raleigh, NC 27608

RE: Smithfield Foods and Smithfield Packing

Dear Theresa:

I wanted to follow-up with you regarding our conversation this morning. In that conversation, I informed you of our decision not to accept a contribution from your clients, Smithfield Foods and Smithfield Packing. You indicated that I was making a big mistake, and that you were going to notify corporate executives across this State of our decision not to accept this contribution.

Next Monday is International Human Rights Day, and Justice@Smithfield supporters plan to commemorate by drawing attention to human rights abuses at Smithfield's Tar Heel Plant. Working conditions at the plant rank among the most brutal in the United States, and, in years past, were even profiled by the international watchdog Human Rights Watch.

Got this in my email today. Unfortunately it's no surprise that Smithfield will stop at nothing to ensure the continued domination of their employees.

Smithfield Foods' suit against the UFCW comes as no surprise, given the company's abuse of the law for more than a decade.

The company's violations against workers at its Tar Heel, North Carolina, plant are well documented in public records, including illegally firing, intimidating, assaulting, using racial epithets and spying on workers. Twice workers attempted to exercise a choice for union representation at the Tar Heel plant, and twice the company suppressed their rights by violating the law.

-- I'm front-paging this because it concerns Unions in North Carolina, a subject we should discuss more. (RP)

This email popped up in my box, thought it might be of general interest:

The Justice@Smithfield Campaign in support of the workers at Smithfield Foods' Tar Heel plant has already seen remarkable results. The company's pork products have been pulled from shelves of many supermarkets, presidential candidates have made the workers' plight an issue on the campaign trail, national churches and cities have passed support resolutions, and a major network of faith, civil rights, and labor organizations has been formed to speak out on behalf of justice at Smithfield. Those of you who were able to join us last month at the company's annual shareholders meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia witnessed the power of this network when it joins with workers from the plant.

My name is John Autry and I am a progressive running for congress in North Carolina's 8th District.  There are numerous reasons I am running.  The main one is to represent working people and make sure they have a voice in government.