NLRB declares union victory at huge NC pork plant

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.wlos.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.nc/3719b8bb-www.wlos.com.shtml

December 22, 2008 18:17 EST

TAR HEEL, N.C. (AP) -- The National Labor Relations Board has declared victory for a union that sought to represent workers at the world's largest hog slaughterhouse in rural North Carolina.

The votes were certified Monday, which allows the United Food and Commercial Workers Union to represent the roughly 4,600 workers at the Smithfield Packing Co. plant in Tar Heel. Workers voted about two weeks ago.

Board assistant regional director Howard Neidig said certification letters were faxed Monday to company and union attorneys.

Neidig said his agency still must resolve several pending complaints of unfair labor practices the union filed in the months leading up to the vote. The agency hopes to quickly settle the complaints now that the election has been settled.

The company's parent, Smithfield Foods Inc., in based in Virginia.

[rurallib]

1. Bet Bush (and Chou) would like to negate that by 1/20