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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