What is happening: East Tennessee Jobs with Justice and Interfaith Worker Justice are happy to announce that people of good will in Tennessee now have an opportunity to stand in solidarity and communion with the low-wage Latino immigrants who are becoming such a key part of our local communities and our economy. Workers at a poultry processing plant operated by Koch Foods in Morristown, Tennessee, have begun taking a variety of courageous steps to speak out about abusive workplace practices and to bring their situation to the attention of the authorities, of management, and of the public at large. For instance, in recent months, workers at Koch Foods have done the following:

Brought formal complaints before the Tennessee Occupational Health & Safety Administration about lack of adequate bathroom facilities and reasonable access to them, as well as the company's failure to properly guard and lock-down dangerous equipment or to train endangered workers in the safe use of that equipment.

Filed unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board concerning Koch's firing of some workers who joined in bringing forward complaints about these safety matters and other abusive treatment they received from supervisors.

Spoke out at a Worker Rights Board hearing organized in Knoxville by Jobs with Justice, talking to a standing-room-only crowd at a local church about some of the problems with health, safety and sanitation at the plant.

Contacted community supporters and labor union representatives to learn more about their rights under U.S. and international law.

Launched an organizing drive for a union so they could start dealing collectively with management and seeking the benefits of a collective bargaining agreement.

Signed authorization cards indicating majority support among workers at Koch Foods for the United Food and Commercial Workers union as their representative for purposes of entering into a collective bargaining agreement with the company.

Began making themselves available to local congregations and community organizations to tell about their situation at the poultry plant and in Morristown and to seek support for their efforts.

Help put us in touch other people who need information or might want to help. We are building contact lists and brainstorming about people who might be able to play different roles and contribute different talents to this effort.

Contact Jim Sessions at 865-573-0655