June 3, 2021

Smithfield Foods and the union that represents its employees are telling different stories about negotiations to reach a new four-year contract.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 304A, the union for nearly 3,500 South Dakota workers statewide — including Smithfield Sioux Falls pork plant workers, condemned the company in a statement Wednesday “for refusing to work with the union to reach an agreement on a new four-year contract.”

“If the company refuses to come back to negotiations, Smithfield workers at the Sioux Falls plant will have no choice but to consider a walkout and potential work stoppage,” union president B.J. Motley said. “These brave men and women have waited far too long for the strong contract they have earned and deserve. Smithfield must act now.”

Virginia-based Smithfield issued its own statement in response, calling the union’s claims “unquestionably, inaccurate.”

“Such tactics during an active and ongoing contract negotiation are a disservice to our many hardworking employees,” the company said in a message attributed to chief administrative officer Keira Lombardo.

There is a pending offer that has been provided to the membership, she continued. A vote by the membership had been scheduled for today.

“Additionally, there have been active discussions about scheduling additional meetings next week should the offer not be accepted,” she said.

The issue from the union’s perspective appears to revolve around the pandemic — both related safety measures and an enhanced compensation package because of what workers endured last year.

In April 2020, the Sioux Falls Smithfield plant experienced a COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in nearly 1,300 worker infections and four worker deaths. The outbreak forced the company to close the site for several weeks.

“As the union for these brave South Dakota workers, UFCW Local 304A came to the table committed to reach an agreement with Smithfield on a strong contract. Given the deadly risks these front-line Sioux Falls workers have faced, it is time for Smithfield to do right by their workers by providing a contract with the fair pay, good benefits and essential safety protections they have earned and deserve,” Motley said.

“Smithfield’s COVID safety failures allowed nearly 1,300 pork plant workers to be infected by the virus and four worker deaths, turning Sioux Falls into the most dangerous COVID hot spot in the country early in the pandemic. It is stunning that Smithfield still refuses to work together with UFCW Local 304A to reach an agreement that recognizes the incredible service of these dedicated South Dakotan workers. Smithfield has a responsibility to end this impasse and finally deliver the strong contract that these front-line employees have earned.”

In return, Smithfield pointed to statements made by the union in 2020 that were supportive.

“During the pandemic, union representatives have praised our comprehensive COVID response, which led to demonstrably low incidence of COVID for a sustained period,” Lombardo said.

“The health and safety of our employees has been and remains paramount as we have worked together to ensure food is available for so many.”

In a May 6, 2020, statement from Smithfield, Motley was quoted as saying: “I toured the plant with our Joint Union Management Safety Committee and was impressed with the measures put in place to protect employees. Smithfield is doing everything they can for the employees and their safety.”

The Sioux Falls Smithfield location is one of the largest pork processing facilities in the country, representing 4 percent to 5 percent of U.S. pork production. It supplies nearly 130 million servings of food per week, or about 18 million servings per day, and reported 3,700 employees in May 2020.