(Washington, DC) —Yesterday, workers at the Smithfield Packing facility in Tar Heel, North Carolina chose to be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) in a historic vote years in the making. Following this victory, American Rights at Work Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell released the following statement:

“By a vote of 2041 to 1879, these meat-packing workers overcame years of unionbusting tactics by Smithfield’s management after both sides recently agreed to a fair process outside of our current legal system. Thousands of Smithfield employees will now have union representation so they can earn better wages, benefits, and safety on the job. We hope that Smithfield will now sit down at the bargaining table with its workers and quickly reach a fair contract that both sides can agree on.

For 15 years our legal system failed to protect these workers.  This victory shows that when workers have a fair process, they will support a union. This is why we need to reform our nation’s labor laws with the Employee Free Choice Act.

Momentum is building across the country for critical pro-middle class reforms like the Employee Free Choice Act that will grant more workers, just like those at Smithfield, the ability to organize on an even playing field and get a voice on the job.”