Smithfield files federal racketeering lawsuit against union

RALEIGH (AP) — A union representative says the timing of a lawsuit filed by Smithfield Foods shows the company was never negotiating in good faith to hold organizing elections at its plant
in Tar Heel.

The company filed a racketeering lawsuit against the United Food and Commercial Workers union today, accusing it of waging a smear campaign that included frivolous regulatory investigations and lies told to analysts aimed at depressing the company’s stock.

Union spokesman Gene Bruskin noted that the complex, 100-page lawsuit was filed only two days after election negotiations broke down, demonstrating that the company never had any intention of working with the union.

Bruskin said it’s a shame that Smithfield is choosing to pay powerful lawyers at a time when its employees are fighting for safe working conditions and adequate medical insurance.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)