Smithfield, union fail to reach deal at pork plant

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Reuters

CHICAGO, Oct 15 - U.S. pork producer Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and the United Food and Commercial Workers again failed to reach an agreement that would allow workers at the huge Tar Heel, N.C., pork plant to vote on union representation, both sides said on Monday.

In separate press statements, each side blamed the other for the failure. The UFCW has been trying for more than 10 years to represent the approximately 5,000 workers at the nation's largest pork plant.

A major road block in the talks has been the company's insistence on secret ballots.

Smithfield said on Monday it had proposed a modified system whereby an objective third-party would collect and verify the votes. It said the union rejected that offer.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/consumerproducts-SP/idUSN1537861320071015