| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 7, 2001 |
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Does Gold Kist Care About Worker and Community Safety? 1,300 workers were evacuated last night and told not to report to work today due to a sulphuric acid spill at the Gold Kist poultry processing plant in Ellijay, Georgia. The plant sits on the bank of the Ellijay/Coosawattee River, the main water source for the 23,000 citizens of Ellijay, Georgia area. Early reports from the plant identify the chemical as more than 1,000 gallons of sulphuric acid. The chemical leaked from an outside storage tank into the parking lot and some run off reached the river. Sulphuric acid is a well-known toxic chemical that can cause severe burns to the lungs when inhaled or to eyes and tissue when exposed. At certain levels, the chemical can be deadly in drinking water. The toxicity of this substance raises serious question about Gold Kist management's inability to protect workers and the community from exposure to the potentially fatal chemical. Pay Workers for Lost Time The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is calling on the Gold Kist company to pay workers for all lost work time due to last night's chemical spill at the Ellijay plant. This community environmental tragedy has the potential to produce hundreds of family tragedies. Every day's paycheck makes a difference in the lives of the hard-working poultry workers at Gold Kist who rely on their substandard wages to put food on their families' tables. The UFCW Local 1996 has been organizing workers at the plant for a voice on the job, for better working conditions, wages and benefits. An election is scheduled for May 10, 2001. "Workers shouldn't have to pay the price for Gold Kist's mistake. Gold Kist should pay all workers for the work time they've lost due to this chemical spill." said Emory Walden, UFCW representative. Community Concerned about Drinking Water Safety in Ellijay, Georgia Workers and community residents expressed their concerns over the handling of the toxic substance by Gold Kist. The UFCW is also calling on local authorities to immediately investigate the cause of the accident and determine the extent of health and safety risks exist to the community and the 1,300 poultry workers. The UFCW shares the concerns about the clean-up and the potential impact of the spill on the town's drinking water with the community residents. Drinking water should be tested immediately to prevent any harmful outcome to Ellijay citizens. "No one in this town should be put at risk of being poisoned if they turn on their tap for a drink of water. Testing should be done immediately to make sure the water is completely safe to drink," said UFCW's Walden. United Food and Commercial Workers Union: A Voice for Working America-- www.ufcw.org |
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