Tyson in Alabama Sued for Maintaining Segregated Work Areas

[Erika]

"White Only" Sign and padlock on Bathroom Door

at http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=51622

Are these the good Southern voters Bush relies on?

[bearfan454]

1. Tyson is so f#cked on that one. n/t

[Occulus]

18. I'd say that branch needs to be sued out of business.

And I'll NEVER be buying Tyson chicken again. Never ever, not EVER. These are laws, they've been in place for decades.

I'm almost willing to say Tyson itself deserves to not exist anymore after this. Who knows what other laws the company breaks, that this plant had this going on inside it?

[pitohui]

31. whoa whoa whoa whoa

everyone doesn't need to lose their job nor does the plant need to go out of business

if the allegations prove true, the managers involved should be disciplined & fired

this ain't tyson policy by a long shot

i never heard of any special key to a white break room in ashland or any other tyson plant, it is true that managers often have separate and better facilities

if this is going on, it's prob. a few bad apples on the down low

tyson provides many jobs to minorities

[VegasWolf]

2. Seems like Southern traditions live long. I remember the "White" and

"Colored" water fountain signs. I still have a lot of craker
relatives there and I am amazed at the number of racist jokes
that I hear whenever I go back.

[geckosfeet]

3. I will never buy another Tyson product. Sorry for the employees but

I have hard enough time eating meat much less supporting segregation with my consumer dollars.

[geek tragedy]

4. Let me guess . . . Alabama? eom

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[unsavedtrash]

6. here is the link for it on yahoo news. Please post on Alabama

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20050811/pl_usnw/tyson_sued_for_maintaining_segregated_work_areas___whites_only__sign_and_padlock_placed_on_bathroom_door305_xml;_ylt=AnBFZeXwNZlt3ls7dO4WdRO1qHQA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

[SeanQuinn]

7. ARE YOU INSANE?

I can't believe this. Segregation ended 30-40 years ago, just face it.

[Erika]

8. Email address to contact Tyson Foods

at http://www.tysonfoodsinc.com/Contact.aspx

We can't let them think segregation is acceptable.

[AllyCat]

23. Emailed and another suggestion...

how about printing copies of this news item and placing them in the Tyson section of your favorite grocery store? We here in Wisconsin just saw the labor union really back down to unfair labor practices at the Jefferson, WI plant.

I think it's time to show them just how much they suck and have sunk their own ship on this one.

[yorkiemommie1]

9. i said when * was elected that soon

African Americans would have to move to the back of the bus.

We have time travel all right, but it's backwards.

Will email Tyson.

[Erika]

11. Thanks, we can't let this country go backward

without giving it one heck of a fight.

[Pystoff]

24. Huh?

African Americans working at a chicken plant in redneckville?

I'm from Alabama and the likelyhood any black ppl work there is low.

The only ppl that ever seem to work in those disgusting jobs (and trust me the smell from there would make you swear off chicken) are rednecks and hispanics. So if you want to direct your offendedness in the correct direction it is for the hispanics.

[yorkiemommie1]

25. i see African Americans mentioned in the article

".... ASHLAND, Ala., Aug. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A lawsuit filed today alleges that Tyson Foods Inc. is responsible for maintaining a segregated bathroom and break room, reminiscent of the Jim Crow era, in its Ashland, Ala. chicken processing plant. Twelve African-American employees filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, alleging that a "Whites Only" sign and a padlock denied them access to a bathroom in the Ashland plant. The complaint states that numerous white employees had keys to the bathroom that were not provided to African-American workers.

The African-American employees' complaint also alleges that, after they complained about the segregated bathroom, the plant manager told them that the bathroom had been locked because they were "dirty" and announced the closing of the break room. According to the complaint, the same white employees who had keys to the "Whites Only" bathroom formed their own, private break room, using Tyson materials to construct the furniture. Initially, a locked door segregated the private break room. To the present day, locked cabinets and a locked refrigerator maintain a private break room. ..."

The meaning of my comment was that the GOP, in attacking civil and voting rights in general would love to return to the days when minorities had few rights.

[salin]

10. Speechless.

Sad to wonder how many of these racist participants in this believe themselves to be "values voters", and "good Christians".

This is obsene. And happening today - demonstrates how empowered racists are in their belief that "Jim Crow" was acceptable. It is significant that a whole lot of folks had to be active participants or complicitous in this for it to occur.

Absolutely appalling.

[Whoa_Nelly]

12. Furniture?

From the article:
According to the complaint, the same white employees who had keys to the "Whites Only" bathroom formed their own, private break room, using Tyson materials to construct the furniture.

Chicken wing chairs? Feather-filled cushions? Chicken skin seat covers? Breast bone table legs?

:wtf:

Beyond that statement is the amazement that this whole thing is so pre-1964! Sick idiots

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. Someone tell me this was some redneck's idea of a sick joke...

before my jaw drills a hole in the floor.

[Erika]

14. Today's America

Bush and his Bushbots repeatedly have said there is no race problems and we don't need affirmative action any longer or special civil rights legislation any longer. We're all just one big happy family where all are equal. Yeah, sure.

This suit is real. But the Bushbots might want these types of suits eliminated as bothersome to business. That is the true face of W and what do you call the minorities that go along with his tripe?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

15. "What do you call the minorities that go along with his tripe?"

Fools.

You're right of course...Even if Dumbyass wasn't a racist, his neglect of the problem encourages a higher incidence of things like this...

[Erika]

16. It sickens me

W is setting this country back decades and blaming it on the minorities.

[cap]

17. sad

[lonestarnot]

19. Rotten motherfuckers! is this the chicken coop people?

[Erika]

20. Yes n/t

[undergroundpanther]

21. Fuck TYSON

Assholes.

I think we need a segergated society allright..Why not segergate out the racist thugs,bullies rapists,sociopaths and greedy manipulating crinminal CEos and those well funded rich"social darwinist pieces of shit.Fuck!

[SoCalDem]

22. Whether people want to admit it or not, segregation DOES exist

and not only sporadically in the redneck areas of the south..

Institutional segregation was the 'solution" for many when the laws forbade it.

How it works:

redlining in housing (don't say it doesn't still happens)

economic segregation is still around too.. the poorest people in ANY location are still likely to be "darker skinned".. Sure the "laws" say that anyone can go to any school, BUT in reality, these people are the ones who have little access to transportation necessary to send their kids there, or the time between flunky going-nowhere jobs to do the transporting.

and in private, people can harbor all the old racism and no one need know...The whole anti-immigrant thing is all about racism and the fear these people have about "diluting the gene pool"..what they don;t realize, is that their pool is one that most immigrants would NEVER want to swim in :)

[AlCzervik]

26. Tyson is the worst!! Right up there with Bo Pilgrim and Pilgrims pride

Molly Ivins "Bushwacked" is a must read on isses dealing with the poultry companies as well as Fast Food Nation.

[OhioBlue]

33. I too thought of "Bushwacked" when I read this post.

It is just sickening that this is going on. It is sick that employees, managers, etc. can all be complicit in this. And, I think other posters have it right. Even if * isn't a racist the message that he sends, lends credibility in the minds of the people that do harbor these hateful tendencies. The message that the * admin sends out is that it is socially acceptable for these types of extreme behavior against minorities.

[yellowcanine]

27. I hope they have photos. Could be hard to prove otherwise. I am sure

the offending signs are long gone.

[KamaAina]

28. Please tell me they're only segregating the white and dark meat

oh, crap, they really are talking about people. In 2005. :grr: :banghead:

This is the same Tyson that contributed to Clinton, "America's first black President"?! For shame!

[pitohui]

32. all large organizations have bad apples

no exceptions

i don't condemn all of tyson over the actions of a few jerkwads

do people seriously believe this is tyson co. policy, i think not

[cosmicdot]

29. opensecrets.org Tyson political contributions

Poultry & Eggs:
Top Contributors to Federal Candidates and Parties

2004

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.asp?Ind=A05&Cycle=2004

Tyson Foods #2


2
Tyson Foods
$269,713
40% - to Democrats
60% - to Republicans

PACs made up 68% or $182,063
Individuals 32% or $87,650


One Democrat receiving Tyson
PAC money in 2004

Blanche Lincoln
Tyson Foods $8,000

Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR)
2003-2004 PAC Contributions: $2,407,628
Based on data released by the FEC on Monday, May 16, 2005.

Agribusiness
$258,274

Crop Production & Basic Processing
$67,750

Dairy
$10,000

Poultry & Eggs
$16,606

National Chicken Council
$2,606

National Turkey Federation
$4,000

Tyson Foods
$8,000

United Egg Assn
$2,000

http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/memberprofile.asp?cid=N00008092&cycle=2004&expand=A05



Poultry & Eggs:
Top 20 Recipients

Election cycle: 2004
List Top 20: All Recipients Presidential Candidates Senators Members of the House Senate Candidates House Candidates All Members of Congress
Rank
Candidate
Office
Amount

1
Bush, George W (R)
Pres
$128,980

2
Goodlatte, Bob (R-VA)
House
$40,653

3
Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR)
Senate
$30,856

4
Murphy, Kevin (R-KY)
House
$29,000

5
Stenholm, Charles W (D-TX)
House
$27,000

6
Bonilla, Henry (R-TX)
House
$24,394

7
Bennett, Robert F (R-UT)
Senate
$24,000

8
Kingston, Jack (R-GA)
House
$23,256

9
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA)
Senate
$20,502

10
Clooney, Nick (D-KY)
House
$20,000

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/recips.asp?Ind=A05&cycle=2004

[BulletproofLandshark]

30. Ugh! Bob Goodlatte is my Rep.

And I have to say I'm not surprised a company that allows this kind of racism would contribute to a Bushbot like Goodlatte either.

[yorkiemommie1]

34. I just got a reply from Tyson

.... " We're surprised and disappointed by this legal action and firmly believe
the charges are without merit.

Our company has zero tolerance for discrimination in the workplace.
Once we learn of possible discrimination it's immediately investigated
and disciplinary action is taken when warranted. The presence of any
sign suggesting "whites only" or segregation of any kind is, without a
doubt, a violation of our corporate policies and contrary to our
corporate culture. It is not and never will be condoned or tolerated by
Tyson Foods or our management team.

We have always cooperated with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC), and have been in this matter, so we're shocked by the
agency's decision to file a lawsuit. In addition to policies
prohibiting discrimination, we have a corporate code of conduct as well
as dignity and respect training aimed at ensuring our Team Members are
treated properly.

The Ashland matter involved a restroom in a maintenance shop at the
plant, which is a chicken processing complex that employs approximately
300 people. "

[Erika]

35. I got the same reply

I'm glad enough heat was generated to let them know they are being watched regardless where they operate. Racial discrimination is alive and well in this country.

I will respond that I will monitor the complete suit.

What was the significance or import of their last sentence?

[yorkiemommie1]

36. i wondered about that too

perhaps he is trying to isolate the incident?

[AllyCat]

38. Same response here. The last sentence seemed to be a

defensive statement or something. Why on earth do they need to make a distinction about the location of the incident? Who cares if it was the maintenence garage, the glass ceiling, or the poultry farm?

That was weird. They need to know we are watching.

[spuddonna]

39. Got that, too...

Sounds like they cut and pasted the response from a PR spokesperson into the email...

[Erika]

37. I just saw Tyson & this incident on MSNBC

Countdown - Keith Olbermann

[Megahurtz]

40. Uuuuuhhh.......

Hello!!!.....It's not the 1950's anymore!!!:eyes:

[chapel hill dem]

41. Tyson's HQ is in AK. Pres. Clinton should call the CEO and let him know

the whole country is watching this and consumers can vote thier opinions at the grocery store.