Smithfield Foods Plant workers to vote on union

By Philip Walzer
The Virginian-Pilot
© November 18, 2008

Workers at Smithfield Foods Inc.'s Tar Heel, N.C., plant will vote Dec. 10 and 11 on whether to be represented by a union, the company and the United Food and Commercial Workers union announced Monday.

Smithfield and the union last month agreed to the election as part of a settlement of a suit the pork processor had filed against the union, accusing it of extortion. The United Food and Commercial Workers lost two previous elections at the plant, Smithfield's largest. The National Labor Relations Board later ruled that the company violated the law by intimidating workers to vote against the union.

The results of the December election will be announced "immediately upon completion of the vote," according to a news release issued Monday by Smithfield and the union.

Hampton Roads airport names new director

NEWPORT NEWS

The Peninsula Airport Commission has named Ken R. Spirito as executive director of the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.

Spirito is currently director of airports with the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, Ill.

He reports to work in Virginia on Jan. 5.

- Debbie Messina, The Pilot

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