Forced to Work on a Broken Ankle? Workers Defy Abusive Supervisors for Big Union Win

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In December of 2004, while working at a massive poultry plant in Alabama, Delores Smith slipped on the greasy floor and collapsed into a heap. In considerable pain, she limped over to the nurse’s office. The company nurse, however, didn’t even bother to look at the injury, instead sending Smith home with ibuprofen. When she got to her car, Smith looked down and noticed that pieces of bone were poking out through her sock. She had broken her ankle in three places.

That episode stirred Smith to help lead an organizing drive, with support from the United Food and Commercial Workers. Elections at the plant, located in the small town of Russellville, were held in 2006. (At the time the plant was owned by Gold Kist; it was later purchased by Pilgrim’s Pride.) “They don’t respect us at all,” Smith told the New York Times prior to the election. “That’s why I’m praying for a union.”

The union, however, was easily defeated: 844 workers voted against joining, with only 486 in support. But after years of struggle, last month the prayer for a union was finally answered, when more than 70 percent of the plant workforce voted to unionize. It was the largest victory for organized labor in Alabama in a decade, and a closer look at the two campaigns—the 2006 defeat and the 2012 success—has much to teach about both the challenges and opportunities the labor movement faces.

I worked at the plant during the summer of 2008, and spoke to a number of people about the 2006 campaign. Many of the men and women I met initially supported the union, and even in a union-unfriendly state like Alabama there was some cause for optimism. Workers had a long list of grievances—abusive supervisors, poverty wages, negligent on-site medical care, and, especially, the oppressive line speed. Then, as now, the poultry workers at the plant were responsible for killing and processing nearly 1.5 million chickens a week, a burden that makes pain a constant companion. In fact, Pilgrim’s Pride admitted as much. “It’s fast and it’s hard and your hands are gonna swell and ache,” I was told during orientation. An entire wall in the break room was lined with pain killer dispensers.

On the debone line, which was staffed primarily by Latino immigrants, men and women cut up tens of thousands of chicken carcasses whizzing by on cones. I was stationed nearby, responsible for either dumping tubs of chicken meat or tearing breasts apart by hand. During a shift spent dumping tubs, I would lift, carry, and empty more than thirty tons. When separating breasts, I was responsible for tearing through about 7200 every eight hours. For such superhuman feats, most employees earned between $8 and $9 an hour.

But if workers had plenty of grievances and pent up anger, the union underestimated the opposition and failed to identify leaders, especially among Spanish speakers. Gold Kist launched a vigorous counter-offensive, holding a number of captive audience meetings and bringing in bilingual company reps from out of state. (The workforce was roughly divided equally among Latino, white, and black employees.) Immigrant workers were reportedly promised $2-an-hour wage increases if the union lost. Others were told that, as a reward for keeping the union out, the line speed would be decreased.

But what really hampered the drive, I came to believe, was the union’s failure to build bridges between Spanish- and English-speaking workers. When I lived in Russellville, my neighbor was a Guatemalan named Dagoberto who had organized, in one day, a 500-person march through town in support of immigrant rights. This was the kind of leader—unafraid and widely respected—that an organizer would kill for. But Dagoberto had voted against the union in 2006. “To be honest, I didn’t really know what a union was,” he told me. “I never even saw anyone from the union.” I would speak with dozens of immigrants who expressed similar sentiments.

Without the support of many Latinos, and with anti-union rumors going unchallenged, management scored a decisive victory. After the vote, Gold Kist passed out Krispy Kreme donuts to thank the workers. Then it sped up the line speed. Raises never materialized.

“That’s what we got for voting the union down: a single ###### donut,” remembered Kyle, who worked alongside me at the plant. Kyle originally supported the union but was eventually convinced to vote no. “I’ll admit when I’m wrong—they suckered my ####.”

TWO YEARS PASSED. Pilgrim’s Pride, which had bought out Gold Kist, filed for bankruptcy and was purchased by JBS, a Brazilian-owned meat and poultry giant. (The name of the company was retained.) Then, in September 2010, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspected the Russellville plant and issued $135,500 in penalties for safety hazards, finding that workers were exposed to “acid burns and electrical shock.”

http://www.alternet.org/print/news-amp-politics/forced-work-broken-ankle-workers-defy-abusive-supervisors-big-union-win

[Danno 1,228]

I believe in freedom of choice...... walk off the job

if you can manage to on that ankle

[james&olya 1,121]

I believe in freedom of choice...... walk off the job

if you can manage to on that ankle

I believe in freedom of choice.....VOTE UNION!!!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I believe in freedom of choice.....VOTE UNION!!!

yeah, vote for weaklings who don't know how to speak up for themselves....

[james&olya 1,121]

yeah, vote for weaklings who don't know how to speak up for themselves....

The weaklings who cannot speak up for themselves are the unfortunate individuals who wind up in non-union shops with only their 'benevolent' bosses to look to for decent wages, benefits, and working conditions. Realizing you have a voice and that if you join together with your co-workers in one voice with your common interests you can capitalize on the value of your labor is what a union is all about!

[Teddy B 17,252]

In December of 2004, while working at a massive poultry plant in Alabama, Delores Smith slipped on the greasy floor and collapsed into a heap. In considerable pain, she limped over to the nurse’s office. The company nurse, however, didn’t even bother to look at the injury, instead sending Smith home with ibuprofen. When she got to her car, Smith looked down and noticed that pieces of bone were poking out through her sock. She had broken her ankle in three places.

That's a lie. No way this woman made it to the company nurse and then out to her vehicle without knowing the extent of that injury.

Edited August 3, 2012 by Teddy B

[X Factor 1,112]

That's a lie. No way this woman made it to the company nurse and then out to her vehicle without knowing the extent of that injury.

Some folks have a high pain treshold. I walked with a broken bone in my left leg ( the smaller bone above the ankle) for one week. I though it was a sprain because it was swollen. Then I felt the broken bone come out of the side a week later. I had suffered a sprained ankle before and thought it was that. Anyway I had to have surgery with a plate inserted and 7 screws. Had them all removed later.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Some folks have a high pain treshold. I walked with a broken bone in my left leg ( the smaller bone above the ankle) for one week. I though it was a sprain because it was swollen. Then I felt the broken bone come out of the side a week later. I had suffered a sprained ankle before and thought it was that. Anyway I had to have surgery with a plate inserted and 7 screws. Had them all removed later.

According to the story, the woman "collapsed into a heap in considerable pain, she limped over to the nurse’s office". Collapsing in a heap with considerable pain is not consistant with someone having a high pain threshold. There had to be other people around too, who could see the extent of the injury. I also don't believe that the nurse didn't even bother to look at it.

This is just one of those made up stories for the purpose of hyping up the intended party, in this case it's the union.

[X Factor 1,112]

According to the story, the woman "collapsed into a heap in considerable pain, she limped over to the nurse’s office". Collapsing in a heap with considerable pain is not consistant with someone having a high pain threshold. There had to be other people around too, who could see the extent of the injury. I also don't believe that the nurse didn't even bother to look at it.

This is just one of those made up stories for the purpose of hyping up the intended party, in this case it's the union.

You could be right. I am reminded of the story of a female dentist who reportedly extracted all the teeth of her ex-boyfriend in revenge. It was a fictitious account.

Edited August 3, 2012 by kennard

[Teddy B 17,252]

You could be right. I am reminded of the story of a female dentist who reportedly extracted all the teeth of her ex-boyfriend in revenge. It was a fictitious account.

The other give away is the title of the story which is "Forced To Work On A Broken Ankle". Then in the very first paragraph it states that the woman was sent home by the nurse. Nowhere that I could find in the story did it state the woman was forced to remain working after she was injured.

[catknit 144]

Being a former abusive chicken plant supervisor....

Seriously, I was a floor supervisor in a chicken plant - had about 100 general labor employees. The areas I managed were the processing machines [cut whole chickens into parts] and packing [placing chicken parts into the trays found in grocery stores or 40lb boxes that go out to restaurants/food supply companies].

It IS very hard work. The work is fast paced and the conditions are difficult [cold, wet rooms with cold product for food safety reasons]. There are some incredibly horrible companies to work for in the business. There are some decent companies to work for too. I firmly believe my former employer was a better employer. The least a worker could make at my former plant was $10.50 after a 90-day probation period. Hourly employees could make up to $15/hr depending on their skills/job title. A very nice and affordable medical/dental/life/vision/disability plan was available for something like $16/wk.

If anyone ever complained of any health related issue - they were sent to the medical center. If the medical center was closed, the on call nurse was called. If it was something out of the ordinary and somewhat emergent [breathing issues or chest pains] they were sent to the ER. We, supervisors, were not allowed to ignore health issues. Even if it was the same drama queen every Thursday night who needed to go see her boyfriend at 2 am and had chest pains like clock work to make sure she was out the door at 1:45, she got sent to the ER and needed medical clearance to return. [Yeah, this would happen weekly].

And, that is where things would get sticky - I can't tell you how many counselling sessions with employees I had where the topic was "if you can't work here due to medical issues, you need to speak with the med dept and HR and get this straightened out - there are disability programs, leave programs, etc". Why would I say something like that - because the conveyor belts ran fast - 800 chicken wings a minute with 18 packing slots and the expectation that 40 wings are packed/graded out a minute. 2 people either not working fast enough or off the line would lead to a mess of chicken on the floor and the USDA inspector shutting down the line - which would then back up the whole plant...which would cause overtime, which would cause lost profits, etc etc etc

I left because I couldn't handle it any more. The people, the rules, the cold/wet conditions, and mostly the hours - I was working 70-ish hours a week and it sucked.

[X Factor 1,112]

The other give away is the title of the story which is "Forced To Work On A Broken Ankle". Then in the very first paragraph it states that the woman was sent home by the nurse. Nowhere that I could find in the story did it state the woman was forced to remain working after she was injured.

You are right. A typical ploy to get people to read the story. Very deceptive.

[X Factor 1,112]

Being a former abusive chicken plant supervisor....

I left because I couldn't handle it any more. The people, the rules, the cold/wet conditions, and mostly the hours - I was working 70-ish hours a week and it sucked.

That is quite an account. When I eat from now on, I won't be looking at chicken the same way.