US poultry giant under fire after segregation scandal is revealed

[T_i_B]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article312981.ece

A group of black workers is suing the world's largest poultry meat producer, accusing it of tolerating a racist workplace where African Americans were routinely abused and a "whites only" sign was pinned to the lavatory door.

Tyson Foods is accused by 13 workers of maintaining a segregated system in a break area at one of its plants in Ashland, Alabama, that was "reminiscent of the Jim Crow era".

In addition to the posting of the "whites only" sign, the workers allege that the lavatory was padlocked and only white workers were given a key, that workers hung a noose in one of the recreation rooms and annotated a picture of monkeys with the names of black staff. When the workers complained, they say the plant manager told them the facilities had been locked because they were "nasty, dirty behaved like children".

Speaking for the first time about the lawsuit, Jake Whetstone, one of the workers, told The Independent: "When I saw that sign it really hurt me. I'm 50. I grew up a time when there was segregation. I thought we had gotten over it and moved on but seeing that sign I had a flashback."

[malaise]

1. No surprise

expect more of these stories now that the subject racism is back on teh agenda.

[indigo]

2. This was first discussed

around Aug 11th after suit was filed.

I agree that it's made a "comeback" in the news.

[T_i_B]

3. The UK news mind

The UK Independent this time around.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

4. self delete

[Judi Lynn]

5. The "uniter, not a divider" has united us with the worst part of the past.

This story is a nightmare. People like this operate with almost complete impunity now. What's going to stop them, another civil rights movement?

I think this administration would gleefully murder leaders of any movements now. I believe they would allow themselves to get by with it. Who would stop them? They control the country. They intend to keep control, too. They control vote counting.

From the article:

Tyson Foods is based in Arkansas and operates 123 processing plants throughout the US. Every week it produces around 150 million pounds of meat. Earlier this year it donated $100,000 (£55,000) for George Bush's inauguration celebration and in 1993 it donated to similar celebrations for Bill Clinton.
(snip)

Tyson Foods was one of several meat-packing companies highlighted by a report earlier this year by Human Rights Watch, which said jobs in the meat industry were among the most dangerous in the US. It said: "Dangerous conditions are cheaper for companies, and the government does next to nothing."
(snip)

Why don't we ever hear from the Freep trolls who infest this board when Human Rights Watch has something to share about American human rights violation of the truly EVIL variety?

[420inTN]

21. Meat packing plants -- It's still a Jungle n/t

[ret5hd]

6. Read this for another "poultry plant" tale...

A coworker and i were eating lunch, and he started discussing his son. He had gotten 2 dui's in Oklahoma (now a felony)...but was given the opportunity to go to rehab for 6 months and keep a felony off his record. He accepted the offer. I asked my coworker how this program was funded: state? county? hey, 6 months of in-house rehab ain't cheap. This is what he told me.

The rehab is in rural Oklahoma, near the Arkansas border. The rehab facility has a contracty to supply manpower for a poultry plant in Arkansas. The rehab facility receives $10+ per man-hour. The inmates are bussed daily to and from the poultry plant. Upon completion of 6 months the rehab facility releases the inmate, giving him $500 cash. Very little therapy, rehab, etc are given.

Slave labor? Exploitation? I dunno. They get to keep a felony off their record, but it sure doesn't sound right to me.

[donsu]

10. private prisons are in on like-minded scams too

I stopped eating chicken years and years ago to be in solidarity with the mostly women working in the fowl processing plants.

they were being totally exploited.

rehab in america is a laugh.

[flvegan]

7. And, it's one of "The 10 Worst Jobs in America"

From Alternet.com
http://www.alternet.org/rights/24927/

Poultry processor
These folks quit their jobs five times as often as other workers, and it's not hard to see why. This job boasts an impressive "ick" factor -- you can imagine how gross these plants smell. The workers -- two-thirds of whom are black women -- are surrounded all day by gizzards and offal. The pay is lower than any other job in the manufacturing industry, except apparel. It would be tough to decide which was the worst task in a poultry plant -- would you rather be crapped on and scratched by live birds; slaughter and behead them; or pull their guts out? The work is repetitive, with relentless pressure for profit-maximizing efficiency. Bathroom breaks are discouraged and often punished. Because of the brutal pace and casual safety training (portrayed in a Pulitzer Prize-winning Wall Street Journal investigation of the industry) one in four poultry workers are injured or made ill by their jobs. Cuts from the equipment -- knives and scissors -- are common, as is carpal tunnel syndrome. Many poultry plant workers live in trailers on the premises, paying their rent through pay deductions. Alarmingly, this has been one of the fastest growing factory jobs in recent years.

[texanshatingbush]

8. Which poultry company was accused of inhumane treatment of animals?

A couple of years ago, evening news showed video inside a poultry processing plant, showing workers kicking animals, etc. Does anyone remember which poultry company it was? Tyson? Pilgrim? someone else?

[GayCanuck]

13. All I know is that you should not eat meat

[Betsy Ross]

9. New Orleans will rise again.

Surprised no one else seemed to jump on that as a little to close to "the South will rise again." Which may be what he really meant. Kind of like his reference to a crusade.

[Carolab]

11. Remember, it was not that long ago that schools were segregated.

I was a high school sophomore when my school was integrated. We had just moved from the Midwest to Tennessee. Let me just say my family was branded "N****R LOVERS" for befriending blacks.

[Barkley]

12. I hope that Janice R. Brown (sharecroppers' daughter) is not the judge

She ruled in Aguilar v. Avis Rent A Car Systems

the Latino employees of an Avis facility in San Francisco filed a lawsuit to end physical and verbal harassment and the use of racial epithets and discriminatory investigations against them in their workplace.

The harassment was so bad that the jury awarded many of the plaintiffs' monetary damages ranging from $15,000 to $25,000.

Justice Brown disagreed with the majority of the California Supreme Court and wrote a disturbing dissent arguing that racially discriminatory speech in the workplace was protected speech under the First Amendment.

Brown went even further and claimed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would be unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

http://www.civilrights.org/issues/nominations/details.cfm?id=32097

[redqueen]

15. It's so much worse than I thought...

unreal...

[gate of the sun]

14. I've been boycotting them for years

When I learned what jerks these guys are I quit buying their products.

[flannelmouth]

16. One more reason we need to lose the Clintons!

Tyson is heavily involved in networking in his native Arkansas, often with political figures such as then-governor Bill Clinton. While in office in Arkansas, Clinton bestowed numerous tax breaks on Tyson Foods for expanding its workforce (the means by which this occurred are discussed in more detail on pg.4). In return, Tyson has provided the Clintons with complementary private airplane travel for business and personal trips. James Blair, Tyson’s general council, has also worked as Hillary Rodham Clinton’s advisor when she made her profit on the commodities market in the later 1970’s. James Blair is married to one of Bill Clinton’s top campaign advisors, Diane Blair. The couples share a close relationship and have been known to spend vacations together at each other’s homes.

The ties between Clinton and Tyson run deeper still considering that Tyson has been a major supporter of Clinton’s political ventures for numerous years. Tyson Foods’ contribution to the federal candidates in 1997-1998 totaled approximately $46,500 and contributed the largest donation from the poultry and eggs industry with an $180,150 donation. Tyson Foods also lent its support to the 1993 Presidential Inaugural Foundation with a $100,000 donation (Center for Responsive Politics website, 1999).

[T_i_B]

18. Quoting something?

While in office in Arkansas, Clinton bestowed numerous tax breaks on Tyson Foods for expanding its workforce (the means by which this occurred are discussed in more detail on pg.4).

Now I'm guessing that you are quoting a book here as there certainly are not 4 pages about Tyson Foods in the UK Independent. Would you be able to give us the title of whatever it is you are quoting from and a link if at all possible? :-)

[Dems4HowardDean]

19. Here is a link to the article

it was written by a student I believe....
http://webpages.marshall.edu/~ewen/tyson.htm

[Avalon Sparks]

17. ~Here's Tyson's response to an email I sent~

Our company has zero tolerance for discrimination in the workplace.
Once we learn of possible discrimination it's immediately investigated
and disciplinary action is taken when warranted. The presence of any
sign suggesting "whites only" or segregation of any kind is, without a
doubt, a violation of our corporate policies and contrary to our
corporate culture. It is not and never will be condoned or tolerated by
Tyson Foods or our management team.

We have always cooperated with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC), and have been in this matter, so we're shocked by the agency's decision to file a lawsuit. In addition to policies
prohibiting discrimination, we have a corporate code of conduct as well as dignity and respect training aimed at ensuring our Team Members are treated properly.

The Ashland matter involved a restroom in a maintenance shop at the
plant, which is a chicken processing complex that employs approximately 300 people.

-----Original Message-----
From: XXXXXXXaol.com
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 2:07 AM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Contact Us form submission on www.tysonfoodsinc.com

CATEGORY: News, information, and public affairs
QUESTION/COMMENT:

Hi,

I just read the article on Yahoo news regarding your Alabama facility
that has a segregation policy instituting a "Whites Only" bathroom.

I am now instituting my own policy to never purchase another Tyson
product again. I will encourage my extended family and network of
friends to join me.

Sincerely,
XXXXX XXXXX
Dallas, TX


I'm still not buying their crappy meat....

[VOX]

20. And this from a company that hires "workplace chaplains!"

Why is it that public piousness and hatred so often go hand-in-hand in this country?????
:grr:
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/090105LB.shtml
Spiritual Guidance... In the Workplace?
By Jane Lampman
The Christian Science Monitor
Thursday 01 September 2005
Companies that hire workplace chaplains find that besides helping employees, they may help their bottom line, too.
<snip>
Tyson Foods, Inc., a major food supplier, has 127 part-time chaplains serving at 76 sites.
<snip>