Thread: Tyson immigrant hiring lawsuit gets class action status

Tyson immigrant hiring lawsuit gets class action status
Associated Press
Oct. 12, 2006 12:26 PM


CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. A federal judge in Chattanooga has granted class action status to a lawsuit that contends Tyson Foods depressed wages by hiring illegal immigrants at eight plants in Tennessee, Alabama, Indiana, Missouri, Texas and Virginia.
Tyson employees' attorney Howard Foster of Chicago today described the ruling as a "very big step," and says he is now seeking damages for thousands of workers at the eight plants.

An attorney for Arkansas-based Tyson, Roger Dickson of Chattanooga, declined comment, saying he has not had a chance to read the judge's order.

U-S District Judge Curtis Collier in the ruling yesterday set a January 29th, 2007 conference with attorneys. Foster said the judge will then likely set a trial date.

A federal jury in March 2003 acquitted Tyson Foods and three former managers of conspiring to hire illegal immigrants from Mexico and Central America for low-wage production jobs to boost profits. Two former Tyson managers who made plea deals were each sentenced to one year of probation.

The acquittal dealt a setback to the government's strategy of enforcing immigration laws by going after big business.

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=5532056

added to Home Page:

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=1581

Tyson also hired illegal immigrants in Nebraska. I wonder why Nebraska wasn't part of the suit.

I hope they go down in flames!

This is VERY GOOD NEWS!!!

The dominoes are starting to fall. With the Mohawk Carpet case surviving it's appeal, Big Business has their nipple in the proverbial wringer!

Yep, this story is wildfire on the News Wire.

A lot of this crapping on workers happened right here close to LoserVille. The workers lost and are now abandoned by their Union in favor of the new slave class.

http://www.commondreams.org/pressrel...99/021599a.htm

FEBRUARY 15, 1999 8:30 AM


Truth Squad Targets Vienna, Ga., Tyson Plant

WASHINGTON - February 15 - On Tuesday, Feb. 16, the United Food and Commerical Workers International Union (UFCW), Local 227 is sending Tyson Foods the message: "We Won't Back Down" and continues its pressure on Tyson. Striking workers from the Tyson plant in Corydon, Ind., have joined "Truth Squads," named for their commitment to speak the truth to consumers, workers and the community about conditions in many plants and to get the truth about working conditions from plant workers in other facilities.
Appearing at 2:30 p.m. at the Tyson Foods processing plant at 1151 E. Pine St. in Vienna, Ga., the Truth Squad will announce its plans to reach Georgia's consumers, workers and community about worsening conditions in the poultry industry and the greed-driven efforts by corporate giants such as Tyson to push wages and conditions to near Third World levels. The Truth Squad is a key part of UFCW's efforts to build a movement among all Tyson workers to demand justice from the poultry and food processing giant.

The Truth Squad has targeted the Tyson plant in Vienna to show support and unity with the workers who are organizing with the Atlanta-based UFCW Local 1996. Three weeks ago, the Vienna workers demonstrated their unified commitment to a voice for justice in the workplace by traveling more than 1,000 miles to rally with the striking workers in Corydon.

The Corydon workers' struggle for dignity and decency has won the support from people across the country. The National Baptist Convention-USA Inc., the largest African-American denomination in the country, asked its churches not to buy Tyson chicken products for any of their church functions. People of faith, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, are reaching out in support of their struggle for justice and dignity.

The more than 250 poultry workers in Corydon, Ind., were forced on strike over management demands to eliminate paid breaks for workers, reduce overtime pay rates, and gut contract protections. The workers, mostly local residents and long-term employees, put up picket lines at the plant on Jan. 3, 1999.

When fully staffed, the Corydon plant processes more than 600,000 chickens a week or more than 2,000 birds per worker per week. With $7.5 billion in sales and $345.8 million in operating profit, Tyson is three times larger than its closest competitors. Average wages at the Indiana plant, $7.68 per hour, are more than a dollar an hour less than industry average.

U-S District Judge Curtis Collier

KUDOS to Judge Collier
that rarity! A judge who's a Constitutionalist!!

The workers, mostly local residents and long-term employees, put up picket lines at the plant on Jan. 3, 1999.

And how times have changed......as they said in New Orleans, "The Mexicans are here and we don't need you any more."

This news is great!! I can't wait to here about all the other companies that will follow!!!