Since its founding in 1996, the poultry industry has been an important focus of IWJ’s work. Working in chicken processing plants or raising chickens on farms often means low wages, dangerous working conditions, and a general lack of respect on the job. Workers and farmers who organize for positive change in their workplaces often face significant opposition from the companies for which they work.

• One hundred percent of the poultry plants surveyed by the Department of Labor in the year 2000 did not pay employees for all the hours they worked.
  
• Seventy-one percent of the contract growers who raise chickens earn incomes that are less than the poverty line.
  

In response to these conditions, IWJ has formed the Poultry Worker Justice Campaign. The campaign seeks positive changes for poultry processing workers, chicken catchers, and contract growers by working at both national and local levels. In partnership with faith bodies, the U.S. Department of Labor, civil rights and immigration organizations, and labor unions, we seek to improve wages and working conditions for the people of the poultry industry.

Activities of the Poultry Worker Justice Campaign Include:

• Organizing delegations of clergy and laity to meet with workers and management at poultry plants where workers had grievances in Morganton (Case Farms) and Lewiston (Perdue), North Carolina. (1996)
  
  
• Writing a code of ethics for how poultry companies should treat their workers, catchers, and growers. (1997)
  
  
• Urging the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to conduct an investigation of the poultry industry. Resulting surveys by the DOL in 1997 and 2000 found widespread wage violations by numerous poultry companies. (1997)
  
  
• Protesting Perdue’s foreclosure on the family farm of Winston and Alma Monk in Snow Hill, Maryland. The Monks refused to sign a new contract with Perdue, claiming they would not be able to make any money under the new contract. (1998)
  
  
• Supporting Tyson workers in Corydon, Indiana, who went on strike when management refused to offer a fair contract. After three months on strike, workers improved their working conditions and wages. (1999)
  
  
• Publicizing law suits against Tyson and Perdue for back wages owed to processing workers who were not paid for all the hours they worked. (2000)
  
  
• Organizing a National Poultry Justice Week. Religious and community members informed workers of their basic rights in 13 different states by distributing bilingual workers rights materials from the DOL. (2001)

How Can I Become Involved?

You can take action on issues affecting poultry workers in a variety of ways. If you live in an area with poultry plants, there may already be a group in your community working on these issues. IWJ can help you make contact with such groups. If you live outside of a poultry producing area, there are often actions you can take, such as encouraging particular companies to improve their working conditions.

Contact Elisabeth Solomon at the Interfaith Worker Justice to find out how you can support poultry workers, catchers, and growers in their struggle for dignity and justice. Elisabeth may be reached by phone at (773) 728-8400 ext. 42.

Resources for Further Information

Contact IWJ for copies of the following resources:

• Voices and Choices: A Pastoral Message on Justice in the Workplace from the Catholic Bishops of the South. (English/Spanish)
  
• Justice for Poultry Workers: A Study and Action Guide for United Methodists. (Eng/Sp)
  
• Georgia Poultry Workers Rights Manual (Eng/Sp)
  
• Arkansas Poultry Workers Rights Manual (Eng/Sp)
  
• “Code of Ethics for Poultry Companies” (Eng/Sp)
  
• Fact Sheet on the Poultry Industry (Eng)
  
• DOL Poultry Worker Rights booklets and videos (Eng/Sp)
  
• Worker Rights Bulletin Inserts in 8 languages on CD-ROM
  
• “What Faith Groups Say About the Right to Organize” (Eng)