Ex-Tyson Foods Employees Sue Company
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Four former hourly employees of Tyson Foods have filed a civil lawsuit accusing the meat company of depressing their wages by hiring immigrants known to be illegal, The Associated Press reports.
The company and six former managers already face a federal indictment accusing them of conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants to work at 15 plants.
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, accuses Tyson of relying on temporary employment services and on recruiters it says were paid for each illegal immigrant the company hired. Non-Tyson workers in the same communities as the 15 plants received much higher wages, according to the lawsuit.
Tyson spokesman Ed Nicholson declined comment on the lawsuit, according to the AP.
The company and six former managers already face a federal indictment accusing them of conspiring to smuggle illegal immigrants to work at 15 plants.
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, accuses Tyson of relying on temporary employment services and on recruiters it says were paid for each illegal immigrant the company hired. Non-Tyson workers in the same communities as the 15 plants received much higher wages, according to the lawsuit.
Tyson spokesman Ed Nicholson declined comment on the lawsuit, according to the AP.