Thread: Postville rabbis walk off the job Agriprocessors

Postville rabbis walk off the job Agriprocessors
By JENS MANUEL KROGSTAD, Courier Staff Writer

POSTVILLE --- About 50 rabbis in charge of supervising the kosher slaughter and processing of meat at Agriprocessors walked off the job Wednesday morning.

The rabbis reportedly took the action because of a decrease in pay since a May 12 immigration raid caused the plant to drastically reduce production.

"The rabbis were complaining that they didn't have as much time for overtime and additional shifts," said Menachem Lubinsky, a spokesman for Agriprocessors.

Rabbis play a crucial role at kosher meat plants like Agriprocessors because production cannot continue without their supervision.

Lubinsky downplayed the incident, saying the walk-off lasted only 30 minutes after management "resolved the issue." He declined to provide further details.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a New York-based Jewish news service, reported the walk-off lasted 45 minutes.

Lubinsky acknowledged the issue of decreased pay, as well as increased time between work preformed and payment, has been brewing with rabbinical staff since the raid.

But Lubinsky said he could not comment on the financial situation of Agriprocessors because he does not have access to those records. Former Agriprocessors CEO Sholom Rubashkin, who remains involved in the company, did not return a phone call requesting comment.

In an effort to fully staff the plant after 389 of its employees were arrested in the raid, Agriprocessors has hired labor agencies to bring in workers from around the country. However, turnover remains high as workers have complained about working and housing conditions.
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008 ... 554946.txt

When I saw the headline I thought WOW the Rabbis are protesting the illegal alien workers or children working in dangerous areas.

But no it's about money! What happened to

We answer to a higher power?

The meat's not kosher anyway, so who cares if they supervise?

http://www.jewcy.com/faithhacker/social ... shkin_meat

http://www.schechter.edu/askrabbi/kashr ... ughter.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/01/natio ... osher.html