Pilgrim's Pride lawsuit OK'd by judge
Published: Thu, Mar. 13, 2008 07:09PM
Modified Thu, Mar. 13, 2008 07:10PM
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closeEL DORADO, Ark. -- A federal judge in Arkansas has granted class-action status to a lawsuit filed by workers at Pilgrim's Pride who seek payment for the time they spent putting on and taking off protective gear.
U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes certified the class-action lawsuit Thursday. It includes workers from 21 plants in 10 states, including North Carolina.
The lawsuit claims workers arrive at their job sites early for their shifts so they can put on protective and sanitary equipment. The workers also use unpaid time to take off the gear, court documents show. Texas-based Pilgrim's Pride claims putting on and taking off gear is not work.
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The lawsuit includes workers from plants in: Athens, Ala.; Athens, Ga.; Batesville, Ark.; Broadway, Va.; Canton, Ga.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Clinton, Ark.; Dalton, Ga.; De Queen, Ark.; Elberton, Ga.; El Dorado, Ark.; Enterprise, Ala.; Farmerville, La.; Gainesville, Ga.; Lufkin, Texas; Marshville, N.C.; Mayfield, Ky.; Moorefield, W.V.; Mt. Pleasant, Texas; Nacogdoches, Texas; and Natchitoches, La.
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