Smithfield Foods claims United Food and Commercial Workers violated RICO
In an apparent effort to stop “harassment” by the United Food and Commercial Workers union’s “corporate campaign,” Smithfield Foods management personnel brought a $5 million lawsuit against the union for its “public smear campaign.” The suit was filed in Richmond, Va. under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. According to Smithfield’s management, the United Food Workers have carried their aggressive “tricks” to far. Smithfield claims it has been harassed for many year, including boycotts, heckling people who promote Smithfield food products, and disruptive protests during shareholder meetings. A company manager remarked, “This lawsuit was a last resort.” Smithfield’s huge hog-processing plant in Bladen County, North Carolina employing 5000 people is a union target for organization.
