August 27, 2007

Smithfield gets into labour trouble in Boston

The City of Boston has voted recently to halt procurement of pork products from Smithfield Packing Co.'s Tar Heel, N.C., plant until the Smithfield Foods subsidiary reconciles with union interests.

Moreover, the city is urging supermarkets within the city to consider suspending their purchase of Smithfield products until the issues are resolved."

Nearby boroughs, including Cambridge and Chelsea, passed similar resolutions.

The Boston or Chelsea resolutions are not symbolic, said Leila McDowell, a spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers union.

Cities often procure food for city functions, and Boston will not accept any Smithfield product at their functions, the spokeswoman said. These resolutions also add to the pressure on supermarkets to withdraw the product, of which several chains have already complied, she said.