Thread: Study: Wages Improved At Swift Plants After Raid

Study: Wages Improved At Swift Plants After 2006 Raids Picked Up Illegal Workers

March 18, 2009

Wages increased in at least four Swift meatpacking plants, including one Grand Island, after the feds raided six Swift facilities around the country in 2006 and rounded up hundreds of workers who were in the United States illegally, according to a report from the Center for Immigration studies.

The study estimated that 23 percent of the Swift workers in the half-dozen plants entered the country illegally.

The detailed report looked at four company plants. The other two refused to cooperate.

In addition to improving wages and benefits, the report said more native workers took jobs at the plants.

The report looked at the impact of the raids within the communities where they occurred. One section was dedicated to the Grand Island plant. To find the study and locate the information on Grand Island, click here.

Here are key conclusions of the report, along with the section relating to Grand Island.

As is the case in the entire industry, work at the six Swift plants is characterized by difficult and dangerous conditions.


Like the rest of the industry, workers at these facilities have seen a steady decline in their standard of living. Government data show that the average wages of meatpackers in 2007 were 45 percent lower than in 1980, adjusted for inflation.


We estimate that 23 percent of Swift’s production workers were illegal immigrants.
All facilities resumed production on the same day as the raids. All returned to full production within five months. This is an indication that the plants could operate at full capacity without the presence of illegal workers.


There is good evidence that after the raids the number of native-born workers increased significantly. But Swift would not provide information on how its workforce has changed. Swift also has recruited a large number of refugees who are legal immigrants.


At the four facilities for which we were able to obtain information, wages and bonuses rose on average 8 percent with the departure of illegal immigrants.


There is a widespread perception among union officials, workers, and others in these communities that if pay and working conditions were improved, it would be dramatically easier to recruit legal workers (immigrant and native).

Worker pay has a small impact on consumer prices.

The federal investigation that culminated in the December 2006 raids at six Swift plants began putting upward pressure on salaries at the Grand Island, Neb., a month before the raid. Swift boosted the starting wage 40 cents, to $11.50 an hour. It also offered bonuses with ads that declared “Be one of the next 250 people to join the Swift & Company team, and receive up to $1,500!!â€

Having just read the Michele Malkin thread I believe this one should be sent to Nan Puklosi, Jerry Riveeairhead and that other dimwitt.

Just a thought.