TAR HEEL, N.C., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- State inspectors say they have found that a union's allegations about drinking water at Smithfield Packing Company's Tar Heel, N.C., plant were totally unfounded.
Following a thorough, ten-day investigation, inspectors with the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) informed Smithfield that employees' drinking water at Tar Heel is perfectly clean, that equipment was not in need of repair and that there was no substantiation for the union's allegations.
The drinking-water allegations were made almost two weeks ago in a news release issued by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, which has been trying unsuccessfully for more than a decade to organize the Tar Heel plant.
"We knew these allegations had no merit, and we are glad that state inspectors recognize that we have provided plenty of clean drinking water and other fluids for our employees," said Dennis Pittman, Smithfield's director of corporate communications.
"This is the latest in a long line of false allegations made by the UFCW against Smithfield," he added.
"The UFCW's strategy is clear," Pittman said. "It does not want to let employees vote by secret ballot on whether they want a union representing them. The UFCW fears it will lose that vote, as it has lost many votes across the country. Instead, the UFCW wants to put political pressure on Smithfield by making false allegations, in hopes of pressuring us to accept the union without letting the workers vote."
Smithfield has repeatedly called on the UFCW to schedule a new secret- ballot election at Tar Heel. The company has offered to help pay for a neutral observer, such as the Carter Center, to monitor the election to ensure its fairness.
Pittman added, "We repeat our call to the UFCW: Let the employees vote."
About Smithfield Packing Company
Smithfield Packing Co. is America's leading pork producer. It produces a variety of pork products -- country hams, hot dogs, bacon, deli meat, fresh meat, barbeque, sausage and more -- for customers around the world. It is a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods and one of "America's Most Admired Companies," as ranked by FORTUNE magazine. For more information, visit http://www.smithfieldfacts.com/.
Smithfield Packing Company
CONTACT: Dennis Pittman, Director of Corporate Communications of
Smithfield Packing Company, +1-910-862-7675
Web site: http://www.smithfieldfacts.com/
