Smithfield Foods union dispute over transfers lingers

[Omaha Steve]

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/01/smithfield-foods-union-dispute-over-transfers-lingers

By Philip Walzer
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 10, 2010

Smithfield Foods' announcement last week that it had whittled the number of layoffs at its Smithfield Packing Co. South plant from 340 to fewer than 30 cheered plenty of folks in Isle of Wight County.

Some workers at the soon-to-close plant are still frustrated. The reason: a lingering dispute over which union will represent those who transfer from the plant to Smithfield Packing North.

Food Processors Local 1046, a division of the Laborers' International Union of North America, represents workers at the South plant. The Teamsters union represents those at the North plant.

The Food Processors local has accused Smithfield of illegally colluding with the Teamsters to help them sign up the transferring employees and filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB's office in Baltimore issued its own complaint in November, siding with the Food Processors. Smithfield asked for a review by the agency's Washington office.

Wayne Gold, the NLRB's regional director in Baltimore, said last week that the review is pending. Jeff Gough, Smithfield vice president of human resources, had no comment.