Source:  Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 9/8/09

Employees at Smithfield Foods Inc.'s pork processing plant in Middlesboro, Ky., voted against being represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International, the company said.

In a statement, Smithfield noted that workers at the Cumberland Gap facility voted 238 to 80 against joining the union in a secret-ballot election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board.

"The employees who work at Cumberland Gap are directly responsible for our success. We are committed to providing good wages, benefits and working conditions for our employees," said Terry O'Rourke, general manager of the facility. Smithfield bought the former Cumberland Gap Provision Co. in 2003.

Smithfield recently made an $11 million investment to expand the plant's production of semi-boneless hams. The company also produces sausages and other specialty packaged meats at the facility.

In its first fiscal quarter, Smithfield's packaged meat business posted record profits of $107.8 million on revenues of $1.2 billion. 

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