Meatingplace.com
Thousands of Pilgrim's Pride Workers Can Join Donning-Doffing Suit
By Alicia Karapetian

Upwards of 55,000 current and former hourly workers at 21 Pilgrim's Pride poultry processing plants have been served a notice saying that they are entitled to join a lawsuit filed against the Pittsburg, Texas-based processor over time spent donning and doffing protective gear.

The notice, authorized by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, was sent to those who were employed on or near the line any time after May 14, 2005 and instructs them how to join the lawsuit.

The notice also tells recipients they are "entitled to seek a recovery regardless of your immigration status."

Those interested were told to return the consent form included in the notice by September 17, 2008.

This suit was given collective-action status in March. (See Donning and doffing suit against Pilgrim's Pride given collective-action status on Meatingplace.com, March 17, 2008.)