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Wilson Workers: Judith
Wilson Workers: Judith
Judith Batts
I wanted a union because we need a voice on the job. We needed respect on the job. I wanted them to stop talking to us like we were animals. I had worked at Smithfield in Wilson for 2.5 years. I had never been late, never been warned, written up. I had perfect attendance. In fact, I usually went in to work early and talked to my friends and co-workers.
When we started organizing for a union, I would go in early like usual and sign people up for the union. Around the same time, I hurt my hand on the job. I had something like trigger finger. The doctor said I couldn’t lift any more than 5 pounds with my hands, so I went on light duty.
My job was in rework, and I was supposed to check for “leakers.” There, I was fired for “falsifying documents”, but I was not in charge of writing on any paperwork. I never filled out any paperwork or signed my name to anything. When I went to HR, they flashed some paper in front of me that they said I falsified, but they wouldn’t let me read it or see a copy of it.
I believe the HR people saw me signing up people for the union before my shift and I was fired on a trumped-up charge.
