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Every third Monday of January, the US stops to honor the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On this Federal Holiday, people celebrate the progress of the civil rights movement and recognize the steps we have yet to take in achieving greater equality in the US. In Tar Heel however, Smithfield management has refused to even acknowledge the existence of this sacred day. Just this week, workers attempted to deliver a petition with over 1,000 signatures asking for the paid day off to celebrate MLK day and were not even allowed to deliver their message; Smithfield simply refused to receive the petition. Smithfield responded rashly and without consideration for the meaning of this day. In response, Smithfield workers in Tar Heel summoned the media and fellow compatriots to speak out against this injustice served to them by company management. MLK day is the preeminent holiday for human rights in the US. Martin Luther King spoke for the rights of all workers and people as he engaged in the struggle for equality for all people. For many in Tar Heel, Martin Luther King and his teachings are an impetus and inspiration in the struggle for justice at Smithfield. Please check the following options: 01-17-2007 The Martin Luther King event was a huge success. Not only did over 500 Smithfield workers either walk out of the plant or stay at home, but production was cut by 27%. According to in-plant USDA records, Smithfield was only able to kill and process 24,000 hogs, that’s 9,000 less than a regular work day. And, to reach this number, Smithfield Managers and Supervisors had to stay at the plant until after midnight! On top of this, Smithfield publicly pledged not to issue demerit points to workers who did not work on Monday; and they have stated that they will reopen discussions to issue a ninth holiday in the year 2008, MLK day. This is an important milestone in the struggle for justice at Smithfield as it exemplifies the unity and bonds being forged across race and gender amongst the workers in Smithfield’s Tar Heel plant. Workers are standing up for their rights and getting results. 01-15-2007 On January 15th, more than 500 African American and Latino workers in Tar Heel, NC stayed off the job or walked out in honor of Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez. These workers took a stand despite the company's threats to discipline and even fire workers who didn't work that day. Workers who walked off the job were joined in the parking lot by clergy from around the state of North Carolina who came to support them. An inspiring and moving community event featuring the Smithfield Campaign was held with an overflow crowd at the First Baptist Church in Fayetteville. In a touching program, religious and civil rights leaders joined Smithfield workers at the Pulpit linking the call for Justice at Smithfield to the legacy of Dr. King and Cesar Chavez. The event was followed by a march led by clergy and Smithfield workers to the unveiling of a new statue. Smithfield supporters sent around 6,000 thousand emails and phone calls to the company supporting the workers. As a result of the demands of the workers and the public pressure the company is now discussing giving the workers a holiday on Dr King's birthday in the future, but no clear decisions have been made. 01-12-2007 In recent developments, Smithfield Packing has turned to threats and intimidation against its workers. Just this week, workers attempted to present Smithfield with a petition with over a thousand signatures asking for the paid day off on Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday. Smithfield refused to even accept the petitions.Now, Smithfield is threatening workers who opt to commemorate the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. over reporting to work with demerit points, loss of a day’s pay and the possibility of termination. Martin Luther King is an inspiration to many in the struggle for justice at Smithfield’s Tar Heel plant. Smithfield’s heartless disregard for the workers is but just a microcosm of the routine injustices handed down to workers by Smithfield Packing. [back] Smithfield warns workers not to skip work on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Smithfield workers threaten walkout on Martin Luther King holiday Smithfield meets with workers, offers to discuss holiday for 2008 Smithfield workers set to walk Monday for King Holiday King Day sparks Union's new fight with Smithfield Workers at Smithfield Foods want M.L.K. off Pork packers threaten walkout: petition calls for paid MLK holiday Smithfield plant workers could walk out Smithfield plant workers want MLK Day off [back] Click here to see the photographs of the event. [back] Listen to the radio spot here [back] This document is an ad that was published in the Fayetteville Observer.
Flyer inviting workers to join us in a conference that talks about the importance of the MLK Holiday.
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