Lawsuits filed against Pilgrim’s Pride on behalf of its workers have been consolidated and moved to a federal court, according to reports.
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The class-action, seeking US$3m in back wages for the time workers spent putting on and taking off protective gear, includes one filed by the US Labour Department claiming workers arrive at their job early to allow time to put on their work gear, unpaid.
Pilgrim’s Pride, one of the largest poultry producers in the US, repoertedly claims putting on and taking off gear is not work.
When contacted by just-food today (21 FebruarY), a spokesperson for Pilgrim’s Pride refused to comment on anything involving litigation matters.
The lawsuits were consolidated and moved to a federal court in El Dorado and are set to be heard tomorrow.
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By GlobalDataReports have suggested that, in its response to the lawsuits, Texas-based Pilgrim’s Pride has acknowledged some workers have to don certain clothing prior to production, but object to attempts to consolidate lawsuits over the matter and argued that a class action should not be certified.
The case, which was filed in August, involves more than 500 current and former workers at plants in ten states.
