WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Swift workers rally to keep plant open

Swift workers rally to keep plant open

By Marisela Burgos - bio | email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - About 1,300workers at the a meat packing plant on Story Avenue in Butchertown could lose their jobs if the city's Board of Zoning Adjustment decides to revoke the plant's conditional use permit. 

The Board of Zoning Adjustment (BOZA) was scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. Monday to review where the plant parks its refrigerator trucks and whether or not to revoke JBS Swift's conditional use permit. 

If BOZA revokes the permit, the company would most likely shut down, leaving its 1,300 employees without jobs. 

Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW 227), along with Swift employees and supporters gathered Sunday in front of the Swift plant, carrying signs urging the city to keep the plant open and save their jobs.

For months, there have been disagreements between Swift and the Butchertown Neighborhood Association. Many neighbors have complained about the odors coming from the plant, and want to see the plant relocated.

If the plant on Story Avenue is forced to close, about 1,300 people could be put out of work including Jesse Harris, a member of UFCW 227. who spoke to the crowd on Monday.

"I am not ashamed to let people know all across this country that I work with my hands to make a living to send my children to college," Harris said.

Hundreds of people turned out for the rally, many carrying signs with messages of support.

UFCW 227 President Gary Best addressed the crowd.

"This is going to be a very important work week," Best said. "We know we're going to work Monday, but we don't know if we're going to work on Tuesday."

Others also spoke words of encouragement.

"Even in this day and age, when the Union sets its mind to something, we can get the people together," said Chief Steward and Swift employee Kevin Diale."These are our jobs. We're going to keep 'em. We're not going to let anybody take 'em away from us."

The crowd then lit candles and marched through Butchertown, chanting "Save our jobs!"

Brett Davis, who has lived in Butchertown for three years, doesn't think the city will let the plant close. Even though the smell from the plant bothers him and he'd like to see the plant move, he doesn't want people put out of work in the process.

"It's a tough economy out there right now," Davis said. "No one is hiring. I understand where they're coming from."

Davis believes Swift is responsible for its employees' jobs - not the Butchertown Neighborhood Association.

"I think it's Swift themselves not doing the necessary steps to keep the air pollution down," Davis said.

Senator Perry Clark attended Sunday's rally, and expressed hope that Swift and the Butchertown Neighborhood Association can reach an agreement.

"When you surround a neighborhood around a manufacturing plant, the manufacturing plant is preexisting," Clark said. "They can live in harmony. It can be done."

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