Sadly, for those of us who have followed the antics of one of Virginia's worst companies, this news is not in the least surprising. The labor union that represents workers at the soon-to-close Smithfield Foods Inc. South pork processing and packing plant in Smithfield has filed another round of charges against the company, the National Labor Relations Board confirmed Friday.Remember, this is the same company that has long been known as a union-busting firm, and was even featured in a Human Rights Watch report, "Blood, Sweat and Fear." So, no big surprises here.
Alleging violations of terms of the National Labor Relations Act, the Food Processors Local 1046 has now filed at least six separate charges against the company in the last three weeks. The charges accuse Smithfield of refusing to bargain with the union as the company moves forward with its plans to shutter the South plant and transfer some of its workers to other sites.
By the way, since 1998 (according to VPAP), Smithfield has contributed $793,957 to Virginia politicians, of which 74% went to Republicans and 25% to Democrats. First on the list is our old friend Jerry Kilgore, followed by...surprise, surprise...Bob McDonnell, who has received $52,842 from Smithfield. Yet another example of a corporate bad actor spreading its money around the Virginia political establishment for what I'm sure are purely altruistic reasons. And if you believe that one, I've got a Dominion power plant in Wise County to sell you...
