Keeping Swift plant open is key; Union talks to begin this year (2,500 at Grand Island, Ne)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2009/04/11/news/local/doc49e12d172c59c364285522.txt

By Tracy Overstreet
[e-mail]
Published: Saturday, April 11, 2009 10:48 PM CDT

Working through cultural tensions at the JBS Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Grand Island is the right thing for everyone involved but provides constant challenges, officials said.

The bottom line is that Swift is providing the paychecks to the 2,500 hourly union workers, company spokesman Chandler Keys said.

The workers provide hard physical labor, and Swift values the work done, he said. But work stoppages and walkouts hurt the workers and the plant — particularly if workers don’t ever come back.

“We hate the turnover because it costs about $3,000 to $4,000 per employee just to train them,” Keys said. “You’ve got to train them, and the language barrier takes a long time.”

Swift views the cultural issues as important ones companywide, Keys said. Human resources directors at the company’s plants across the country are working on some of the same issues as Grand Island.

Immigrant community leaders are sought at churches and mosques and brought in to work through cultural and language issues, he said. It’s part of the company’s plan to facilitate dialogue and “make things work,” he said.

FULL story at link.