Interfaith Groups Receive Victory in Court Over Tyson Foods, Inc.
Interfaith Groups View Decision as Vindicating Their Demand that Tyson Treat Workers with Dignity and Respect

Chicago – Recognizing that “limited resources” would make Tyson Foods Inc’s demands “very taxing” on poultry worker justice advocates groups, Judge T. Michael Putnam of Alabama granted a protective order to the Interfaith Worker Justice, the Delmarva Poultry Justice Alliance, and the Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice.

The Court’s ruling effectively prevents the food giant from engaging in a litigation strategy that the Interfaith groups believe intentionally or otherwise interferes with their efforts on behalf of poultry workers’ justice.

Last fall, Tyson Foods Inc., subpoenaed several organizations that advocate for poultry workers seeking “all documents that refer or related to” the poultry industry, including Tyson and seven other poultry companies, legal documents, government reports, surveys, and all “verbal and written” communications with any “federal, state or local government agencies.”

Hundreds of workers filed lawsuits charging the food giant with violation of federal wage and hour laws in 1999. Through not part of the lawsuit, the interfaith groups have helped inform workers that they might be eligible for back wages if they had been cheated out of hours.

Judge Putnam said because “the interfaith groups have no direct interest in this case,” he would only allow Tyson to obtain information directly related to their case. And Tyson would have to pay each interfaith group for;

• The cost of copying documents.
• An hourly fee for staff time needed to comply with the subpoena.
• Attorney fees spent having counsel to review requested documents.
  

“We are grateful the court has limited this subpoena. It’s ridiculous that Tyson would focus on getting useless documents from us instead of treating their workers with dignity and respect. That’s why they are in court now–they’ve forced workers to go to the courts seeking justice,” said Bishop Jesse DeWitt, president of the National Interfaith Committee.

“Poultry workers at Tyson and other plants all over the country are complaining of low wages, dangerous working conditions, and of retaliation by management when they raise complaints,” said Leone Jose Bicchieri, Coordinator, National Poultry Justice Campaign of the National Interfaith Committee.

Founded in 1996, the Interfaith Worker Justice educates, organizes, and mobilizes the religious community on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers, especially low-wage workers.