| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 20, 1999 |
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BAPTISTS BACK WORKERS IN BATTLE WITH TYSON FOODS Delegates to the National Baptist Convention-USA, Inc. Board Meeting have brought the weight of its 8.5 million members in full support of the more than 250 striking workers at the Tyson?s plant in Corydon, Indiana. Late yesterday, the Convention unanimously endorsed a resolution in support of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) efforts to secure a just contract for the poultry plant workers. The resolution, offered by the Labor Relations Department of the National Baptist Convention-USA, Inc., also calls on their churches not to purchase or consume Tyson chicken products until the strike is resolved. The more than 33,000 Baptist congregations will not be buying the poultry industry giant's products for their church dinners and family events. "Tyson has tried to strip away the dignity and decency from these workers in Corydon. We have a moral obligation to stand up against greed driven industry giants who trample on the rights of their workers. Millions of Baptists and their families will hear the message that Tyson chicken represents injustice and oppression," said Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Chair of the Labor Relations Department of the National Baptist Convention-USA, Inc. Rev. Dr. E.V. Hill, world renowned preacher and evangelist featured on the Trinity Broadcast Network, stood on the floor of the convention to praise the striking workers and remind those gathered, "The civil rights struggle is not over. People must be mindful of the chicken they eat and the message our choices send to industry giants like Tyson." The more than 250 poultry workers were forced on strike over management demands to eliminate paid breaks for workers, reduce overtime pay rates, and gut contract protections. When fully staffed, the plant processes more than 600,000 chickens a week or over 2,000 birds per worker per week. With $7.5 billion in sales and $345.8 million in operating profit, Tyson is three times larger than its closest competitors. Average wages at the Indiana plant, $7.68 an hour, are more than a dollar an hour less than industry average. The workers, mostly local residents and long term employees, in their fight to preserve dignity and a decent standard of living put up picket lines at the plant on January 3, 1999. United Food and Commercial Workers International Union: A Voice for Working America |
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