QUESTION: The ‘Union Time’ movement started a couple of months ago continues to grow stronger. Many more workers show their support for the union everyday by writing ‘union time’ on their hard hats or vests. In the interviews below, workers from the Smithfield’s Tar Heel plant reveal how things have changed since they are showing their support for the union.

David Simmons, Conversion (Hams)
My name is David Simmons and I work first shift in the Conversion Department at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel, North Carolina. I have been working there for six months now. 

When I saw my co-workers putting union time on their hard hats, it motivated me to do something positive, to support the union.  Initially, some people looked at me funny, but mostly people were happy to see that people were finally standing up for what's right.  Since I put union time on my hard hat, I felt more respect from my co-workers and from management.  It's like they know that I have the knowledge to stand up for myself and my co-workers. I definitely got a positive vibe from a lot of people. 

Putting union time on my hard hat is one way of showing the company that we have started demanding respect.  I think that the company feels intimidated by all of us who have stood up and said that we won't let them take away our rights, including our rights to have a union.  I'm proud to be a part of the growing group of union supporters with union time on our hard hats. 

Marquita Brooks, Conversion (Loins)
I am Marquita Brooks and I work first shift in the Conversion Department at the Smithfield’s Tar Heel plant. I have been with Smithfield for almost two years. 
When I first put union time on my hard hat, I got dirty looks from supervisors and management.  They knew that we were starting to stand up for ourselves.  But the dirty looks were worth it because of the increased respect I received from my co-workers.  They were happy that people were starting to stand up for the employees at Smithfield.  It was time for people to tell the company that they were in the wrong—that you can't treat hogs better than you treat humans.  

My co-workers look up to me now because they know that I'm not going to stand around and do nothing. They come to me and ask for advice about the union and how to get involved in this battle to improve our workplace. 

For me putting union time on my hard hat means that I have the information on how to improve our work environment.  If there is anyone who does not know anything about the union and wants to know more, they can talk to me or one of the other union supporters because it is time for everyone to get more involved.  We need everyone's support in order to improve our jobs.  It can get better; you just need to get involved. 

Marlon McMillian, Kill Floor (Gutter)
My name is Marlon McMillian and I work second shift on the Kill Floor at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel, North Carolina. My job consists of separating guts and I have been at Smithfield for two months now.

Smithfield had fired me for not coming to work, but the whole time I was in the hospital with a bacterial infection from the hog guts.  I put union time on my hard hat before I went in to talk to HR about getting my job back.  I wore my hard hat into HR and they gave me my job back.  I was pretty happy about that.   

I did get more respect from my supervisors after putting union time on my hard hat.  It went from "hey green hat go do this!" to them learning my name and I don't get picked out to do crazy jobs anymore. 

Even though I am still a green hat, I know that I can put union time on my hard hat and not be scared of people messing with me.  Other green hats see that and they ask me about the union.   

Elesandra Bowen, Conversion (Skinner)
My name is Elesandra Bowen. I work first shift in the Conversion department at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel North Carolina. I have been with the company for 8 months.

I wrote union time on my hard hat a couple of months ago. I decided to do it because I was sick and tired of seeing myself and my co-workers not being respected by management. 

I was the first membrane skinner to have union time on my hard hat.  Afterwards, more people put union time on their hard hats.  That means that we can do it!  Because after I had union time on my hard hat for a week or so, everyone else wanted to put it on too.  This made me feel great—it's not just me, a lot of people feel this way. 

By more and more people having union time on their hard hats, more people are interested in the union.  We are more united when a lot of people have union time on their hard hats.  The more united we are, the more we can do to improve our jobs.

When customer tours go past my department, they can see union time on our hard hats and this sends them a message. 

QUESTION: Even though federal law protects workers’ right to show their support for the union, several workers at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel, North Carolina have been confronted by management for writing “Union Time’ on their hard hats. But many workers refuse to be intimidated and are proud to show their support for the union. Below, Smithfield workers from the Tar Heel plant share their experience of supporting the union inside the plant and explain why they write ‘union time’ on their hard hats.

Amanda Cauthen, Conversion
My name is Amanda Cauthen and I work first shift in the Conversion Department at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel, North Carolina.
I've had union time on my helmet for about a month. I put "Union Time" on my hard hat because I like what having a union could do for us.  With a union, we'll be treated fairly and with respect.  In my line, there are about 6 or 7 people with "Union Time" on their hard hats and I'd like see more people do it.

At first, I was confronted by my supervisors.  They told me I would be terminated if I kept it on my hard hat.  I told them that I had the right to have it on there. Federal law gives us that right.  Then I was confronted by the superintendent Ray Krause.  He told me that I did not have to take it off, that I was permitted to do it.

Ted Thomas, Shipping Department
My name is Ted Thomas and I work as a haul puller in the Shipping Department at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel, North Carolina.  I’ve been working for the company for almost four years.

I've had "Union Time" on my hard hat for about one month and no one's bothered me.  They still treat me the same.  My co-workers have just looked at me.  No one has made any comments.  Some respond with "we need a union now."  We talk about the union--a lot of people in shipping support the union.  Not only do I have "Union Time" on my hard hat, I have it on my vest too.  I would like to see 100% support from my co-workers by talking about the union and to stand strong to show we're not afraid.  It makes me feel great that so many people have "Union Time" on their hard hats.  Every time I ride through the conversion area and see so many people with 'Union Time" on their hard hats, I smile.

Melissa Gibson, Conversion
My name is Melissa Gibson and I work first shift as a loin marker in the Conversion Department at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel, North Carolina. I ’ve been with the company for three years.

I wrote “Union Time” on my hard hat because I wanted to support my coworkers. It is important for us to have a union because it means a better future for our families.  And if we stick together we can make a difference. 

I'm not scared because I've been confronted by supervisors and an assistant superintendent.  When I stood up for myself, they are the ones who backed down.  Because we are not going to have an election, writing union time on our hard hats is our way of voting. It is a visual way to show the company that we want a union.  

Jose Rentas, Kill floor
My name is Jose Rentas and I’ve been with Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel for two and a half years. I work first shift on the kill floor as a skinner.

I think that workers writing “Union Time”on their hard hats is good.  We have the right to put “Union Time” on our hard hats.  However, I'm the only one in my immediate area with “Union Time” on my hard hat.  I wish that there were more people in my area. I see plenty of people in other areas, but not mine.

I decided to put “Union Time” on my hard hat because I want the union!  Our working conditions at the plant will be better with a union contract.

I think that a lot of people want to show support for the union but are scared to do so. I think that someone needs to speak to them to tell them their rights.  Some people are scared because of what a supervisor might say.  But they shouldn't be.  Showing your support for the union is protected under federal law

QUESTION: Over 20,000 Smithfield workers enjoy the protection of a union contract at several Smithfield plants across the United States and Europe. However, 5,000 workers at the company’s largest plant in Tar Heel are being denied the same voice on the job. “Why not us?” are they asking.

Lidia Victoria, Kill Floor br> My Name is Lidia Victoria and I work on the kill side at the Tar Heel plant. I work with the bung gun.  I have worked there since 1995. I am a fighter when it comes to defending my labor rights and I am ready to do all I can to get my co-workers organized as a union.  Other Smithfield plants have unions and we do not. Smithfield is committing an injustice and it is very necessary to work together to stop the injustice.  As a leader, I organized events and participated in them.  I am inviting all my co-workers to join us to fight for our rights.  Please help me to take this message to everyone in the company. 

Jefferson Pate, Kill Floor
My name is Jefferson Pate and I work on the Kill Floor at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel. Smithfield allows unions in their other plants. They know what is right and we cannot make it right until we too in Tar Heel have a union.  We have to unite. We as workers have power but most workers don’t even know that the power is in our hands.  For example, they don’t even know that, according to the law, they can go to the bathroom when they need to.  All I have to say is United we stand, divided we fall. 

Jean Roy, Cut Floor
My name is Jean Roy and I work on the Cut Floor at Smithfield in Tar Heel.
Our plant is the largest Smithfield plant. Without a union, Smithfield can do what they want to us. They want to control us, pay us less, give us fewer benefits.  We need a union because of all the wrongful firings, problems with correct pay, and not being treated with respect.  With a union, we will have a voice.  The plant here in Tar Heel should have a union because other Smithfield plants are unionized.  The union will look out for the worker versus Smithfield looking out only for the bottom line.  

Marvin Steele, Former Worker Livestock
My name is Marvin Steele and I used to work at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel. Smithfield terminated me in October of last year. The reason they gave for firing me is that I let a distressed hog get run over. But I believe that I was wrongly terminated and my rights were violated because they know that I am a strong supporter of the union. As a worker at Smithfield, I had always wanted our Tar Heel plant to have the same protection that the other Smithfield union plants have. I think the year 2008 is the year of new beginnings and even though I lost my job at Smithfield, I am still fighting for the union for my former co-workers.

Wanda Blue, Livestock
My name is Wanda Blue and I work third shift in the Livestock department at Smithfield in Tar Heel. The reason why we don’t have a union here in Tar Heel is because Smithfield is fighting us so hard to keep the union out. But all the workers are going to have to fight harder and come together as one to get the union in.  We really need a union because, for one thing, third shift doesn’t have a nurse on Sunday nights.  People get hurt on third shift during the week as much as they do on first and second shifts.  So why don’t we have one on Sunday nights? This just doesn’t make sense. I think the only reason why Smithfield is doing that is so they would not have to pay the nurses more. They leave a number for us to call, but no one ever answers.  People have been hurt on Sunday nights and no nurse was there.  Some have been taken away in ambulances.  This has to change and that’s why we need a union like the other union plants.

Joseph McCall, Cut Floor
My name is Joseph McCall and I work on the Cut Floor at Smithfield in Tar Heel.
I want what everyone else has. What’s good for Smithfield workers in union plants is good enough for me.  I feel left out because I don’t have the protection they have yet we are working for the same company.  I feel like the company doesn’t want me to have the rights to stand up for myself and be organized.  They can keep control over me without a union.  I don’t feel good about being handicapped to a point.  I just don’t like the tradition of what Smithfield offers. That’s why I want the union so bad.  With the union in, I won’t be treated badly and I’ll have more opportunities coming my way. Also, with a union I will feel more comfortable with less burden on my shoulders. With a union, it will be different.

Juan Navarro, Gas Chamber
My name is Juan Navarro and I work in the Gas Chamber at Smithfield’s Tar Heel Plant. Smithfield doesn’t want us to have a union here in Tar Heel because with the union, the company will have to shed light on all the problems with safety that we have to live with.  If we get the union, the company will have to provide us with time clocks.  They will have to pay us for the time that every day they steal from us.  With the union, we will have better respect from the company.  For this reason, I say let’s get together and organize to get a better future for our families! 

This month women workers from the Smithfield’s Tar Heel plant talk about the special problems women in the plant face.

Lisa Davis
As a woman, the work is hard.  It puts a lot of pressure on your hands and wrists.  I pull guts and it puts a lot of damage on wrists and shoulders.  Then they put me working with the bun gun.  I burned my hand with it.  When I recovered, they put me back on guts.  They say now that I have tendonitis in my left hand and I know it’s moving to my right hand because I’m relying on my right hand more.

          Outside the plant, I can’t do my hair, crochet, or sew.  I used to do a blanket in three days.  I can’t do that no more.  I’m constantly in pain.  I’m on pain pills now, but I don’t think they’re going to work now.  And I know they’re going to put me back pulling guts.

          As far as my hand is concerned, I don’t think it’ll go back to be the same.  I crochet blankets for money and I can’t do that no more.  I’m up at night hurting and there’s nothing I can do about it.  I don’t know how the pain will be when I get back on that line.  You hurt so bad that you can’t even get out of bed.  I have to sleep with my hands up on the headboard because of the pain.  The majority of the time I just lay there and cry.  The pain is so bad.

Desiree Washington
My name is Desiree Washington. I work in the Conversion Department on the Loin line. I was hired on December 27, 2005 then fired on approximately January 13, 2008 while out on medical leave after giving birth to my baby girl. My insurance was canceled. I received a letter from the company on or about January 15, 2008. The letter stated that I could be reinstated after 30 days, on or about February 14, 2008. I had no choice except to go back to work. I had no money and no insurance.

Lisa Rosales
I work at Smithfield in Tar Heel, NC.  I have worked there 3 years.  I started in 2005 and am currently employed there.  For me as worker and mother, it affects me a lot. For example, the point system makes it very hard to be a good mother.  When my daughters get sick, I have to miss work to take them to the doctor.  When you return the following day to the plant with a doctor’s note, they don’t care and you still receive a point.  Also the work is very difficult because the line speed is so fast and the work is repetitive.  When I get home, my back hurts and I don't even feel like tending to my daughters. The following day when I wake up my hands also hurt and feel numb.  But I still have to go to work.

QUESTION: Several workers at Smithfield’s Tar Heel plant report that part of their normal break time is used performing work related activities while they should be resting. Let’s hear what they have to say about it.

Jeff Pate, Kill Floor
I work on the Kill Floor at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel. I am scheduled to have 2-30 minutes breaks; but I don’t get my full 30 minutes of break. I have to take off and clean my equipment after my break starts and put my equipment back on before my break ends. This takes about 15 minutes of each break or half of my break time. All I can say is I feel I’m being robbed of my break.

Lisa McRae, Cut Floor
I work on the cut floor, cutting the boneless ribs.  I know I don’t get my full 30 minutes break. Even after break time begins, I do not stop working until the meat passes me on the line. Then I take time to take off my equipment which takes several more minutes. I believe that I need to get my full 30 minutes because the company is taking out for it, which basically means I am working on my own, unpaid time.

Tameka Bethea, Conversion
My co-workers and I have our break time at 5:30 pm. I work with a straight knife as a final trimmer in conversion loins. When break is called, I have to clean and sharpen my knife which means waiting in line to get it done. So I don’t get upstairs until about 5:40 pm. By the time I sit down in the break room upstairs, it’s already time to get up and go back to the line. I think we need to implement better policies or extra time for breaks in order to fix this problem.

Hattie Black, Kill Floor
I work on the Kill Floor, in the headroom cutting ears and snouts. During my break time, I have to take off the plastic, clean my table, and knife, take my knife to get sharpened, and hang it up properly so that I don’t get written up. I also have to use my break to get the plastic back on and run back to the line to get the first head on the line. All of this leaves me only 10 minutes for my break. I need time to eat so I can work. I believe we all need to stand up together so that we can get our full break time.

Michael McNeill, Freezer
I used to work in the Head Room, cleaning out the cheek meat with a knife.  I got injured from having to work understaffed.  A week ago, I was moved to the freezer off of the Kill Floor. I am not getting my full break time because when it is time to take my break, I have to wait for the last head to hit our table, which takes about 5 minutes. Then, taking off my gear takes another 5 minutes.  Then I have to go to the laundry room to clean off my gloves and that’s another 2-3 minutes right there. By the time I sit down to eat something; it is already time to go back to the line.  That just doesn’t make any sense. 

Jose Ortega, Conversion
I am in the Conversion Department. I work in pumped pork, making combos.
I don’t always get my time for break.  Sometimes I have to be at the line early and get off the line late and they don’t pay me for that time. I have to stay longer sometimes to make boxes or whatever other work they have for us. They are stealing time from me daily.

Johnnie Chambers, Kill Floor
I work on the Wet Kill area running hogs to the gas chamber. When our break time comes, first I have to make sure that the water hose is left inside the pen properly so that the pigs can have water while we are on break.  Then I have to get rid of my smock and paddle, and then I have to go and wash my boots.  I know that that is 5-7 minutes right there.  I feel cheated when all I end up with is 15 minutes of rest.

QUESTION: Workers at Smithfield’s Tar Heel plant report that they do not have time clocks on the floors but rely instead on their supervisors to keep track of their time. What do workers think about it?

Julia McMillan
I work on the Kill Floor in the chitterlings department. I believe Smithfield is purposefully not putting time clocks on the floors and they’re stealing from us by not paying us for our fair share of time worked. Without time clocks, we are missing out on a lot of minutes for prep time and for break time.  We should be able to track our own time.

Reginald Parnell  
I work on the Cut Floor cutting loins.  I believe that we need time clocks because our break time starts at 6:00pm, but sometimes when I look at the clock, it is already 6:05pm, so that means that we already lost 5 minutes off of our break time.  And that is just one break in a day, so that means that we must have at least 10 minutes in a day that we are being robbed of, which adds up over the course of three years in my case.

Gabriel Lopez Rivera
Because we don’t have time clocks, the company is robbing us of our time. I think it would be good to have union stewards or shop stewards who sign onto the workers' time. That would solve the problem.

Sexually harassed by management at Smithfield, then fired after missing work for medical reasons.

"People done been killed at Smithfield. People be falling down on floors, people been cut, people always sick. One time I was inside the building and the plant was on fire. They had us still in there working."

"I'm only 23, but my hands are hurt pretty bad. When I worked at Smithfield, I hurt my hands as well as my back, developed pneumonia, and had a miscarriage from standing too long on the job. I also had to deal with sexual harassment from the managers; they could touch you and make nasty comments and there wasn't nothing you could do unless you wanted to lose your job. I had so many health problems from working there, that they took away my disability and finally fired me for missing work, even though I was in the hospital at the time."

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Fired from Smithfield after taking time off for chemotherapy. He and his family lost everything, including their house.

"They terminated me and cut off my insurance. Now I don't have no income coming in, we lost our home, and I have cancer. Don't know where the money's going to come from."

"I worked at Smithfield for two years, but then they fired me 'cause I got sick. I got cancer, and I needed time off for the chemotherapy, but the company said I'd already used up all my sick time taking care of my son after he was injured in an accident. They never told me about the Family Medical Leave Act. While I was in the hospital, they fired me for missing work and cut off my insurance. We lost everything: our home, our savings, even our car insurance. I don't know where the money's going to come from."

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Fired and denied workers' compensation after a back injury left her unable to work.

"They said you would get fired if you joined the Union."

For seven years, Vanessa McCloud's job was to cut the skin off of frozen meat as it came down the line. The work was difficult, especially with so few staff working at breakneck speeds. Vanessa was slipped a disc in her back while on the job. When she was unable to return to work immediately, she was fired. She has received no workers' compensation, and has had to apply to Medicaid to pay her medical bills. With the debilitating injury, McCloud has no idea how she will support her children or herself.

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"They fired me on a pretext because I could not work with my arm swollen. They took away my job because I got injured. It's not fair. I have a family to support. I have three children 8,11 and 14. My husband died. Now I can't work. My arm is still swollen and hurts. The bone has been broken and splintered."

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Permanently disabled after an accident in the plant, and then denied workers' compensation.

"I have had three operations and I don't know what is going to happen next. I have eight siblings and my parents, and I am their only means of support."

"I worked at Smithfield for three years. They were paying $12.85 there to everyone else that cut loins, but they only paid me $11.85. I don't know why-maybe because I am Hispanic. When I complained they told me I was violating the law of the plant if I refused to cut loins. Then I had an accident-- I slipped and fell on a blade, and cut my hand to the tendons. At first when I was out for the operations they refused to pay me, but thank God, after I got a lawyer they started paying. I have had three operations and I don't know what is going to happen next. This hand is useless, and I am the only means of support for my family."

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Fired after being injured on the job; denied Workers' Compensation.

"The company doesn't care; if you get hurt they fire you. I broke my foot and lost my job."

"I started working at Smithfield nearly three years ago pulling combos. But then I hurt my foot on the iron wall at the plant. They took me to the clinic, but all they did was put some ice on it and no pills for the pain. They said it was just a blow. But on my own, I got an x-ray and the doctor said it was broken. Then they fired me. And the company is not paying me anything for my foot, and I've had three operations so far. I want to work but right now I can't stand all day long. So my children had to leave high school and go to work instead."

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Injured on the job, threatened with termination for seeing her doctor, fighting for her rights on the job.

"I asked the trade union lawyer to fight this case, because what they are doing is not fair. At the clinic they said I was a troublemaker and they laughed at me. They said, "Fight all you want, you'll never win!"

"I'd been working at Smithfield for three years when I fell from a ladder. They gave me medication for pain, and told me I had flat feet and that is why I had pain. I went to a private doctor who said I had a very serious problem with the bone, but the company said they'd fire me if I saw him again. They also said they'd fire me if I didn't keep working every day. I am always in pain, but I have to support three children. Their father died and I have been working 11 years for them. I asked the trade union lawyer to fight this case, because what they are doing is not fair. At the clinic they said I was a troublemaker and they laughed at me. They said, "Fight all you want, you'll never win!"

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The temperature in her work area is so extreme, she often becomes sick with a cough and cold.

"I work in a cooler and sometimes the temperature is very cold. After a while, you start feeling the consequences of the same movement and the cold and standing in one place all day."

"I've been working at Smithfield for three years packing meat. We work in a cooler and sometimes the temperature is very cold. We have to go along with the machine's rhythm, and the work is monotonous and heavy. After a while, you start feeling the consequences of the same movement and the cold and standing in one place all day. I just developed a severe cough. I don't want to change my job in the company because in slaughter it is unbearably hot, the lines are too fast, and they don't let you go to the bathroom. But I'm afraid if I stay where I am, the cold will keep me sick. Things are very bad here, but I think a union could help us get better conditions."

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