Smithfield Campaign Turns Up the Heat

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Activists will be on the phones and outside Metro stations this week keeping the momentum going for the Metro DC "Buy Better Than Smithfield" summer campaign. Smithfield worker supporters from across the nation will participate in a call-in action throughout the week to press the nationally syndicated "Michael Baisden Show" to cover the Smithfield workers' fight for a voice on the job (call Joyce Frank, Baisden's executive producer, at 972-991-9200 to participate). "Michael Baisden is usually a driving force behind many civil rights issues - most recently Jena 6," says the Justice at Smithfield campaign. "It is surprising [then] that he would ignore the plight of workers at the mostly African-American Smithfield plant, where workers have been called the 'N' word during union elections in 1997, where health and safety standards are unsuitable, and employees suffer knife wounds, broken bones, and severed body parts." On Friday, local activists will continue Metro canvassing actions outside the Anacostia Metro station starting at 5P. To get involved in the campaign, click here.