A national Jewish organization is investigating whether worker rights violations at the Dakota Premium meatpacking plant also violate Jewish religious law, which could cost the company 40 percent of its business.

Avi Lyon, executive director of the Jewish Labor Committee, announced the investigation at a rally Thursday outside the Dakota Premium plant. Some 250 union members and officers, students and other supporters joined Dakota Premium workers in calling on the company to begin union contract negotiations.

Nearly two years ago, workers at the plant voted to unionize and the National Labor Relations Board certified United Food & Commercial Workers Local 789 as their bargaining representative. Rosen Diversified, the owner of Dakota Premium, is still challenging the NLRB's ruling, refusing to negotiate a first contract. The majority of the workforce is Mexican and have complained about unsafe working conditions in the plant.

About 40 percent of the meat packaged at the plant is kosher, produced under strict guidelines of the Jewish religion. It is sold to Hebrew National which then markets it for retail sale. Lyon said he has talked with officials at Hebrew National about the problems workers are facing at the plant.

“Jewish law governs more than just the production of the meat,” Lyon said. “Jewish law governs the treatment of the workers at this plant as well . . . Rabbis have determined that food produced by oppressed workers is not kosher.”

In addition to Lyon, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, local labor officials and a Dakota Premium worker spoke at the rally. While visiting the Twin Cities this week, Trumka has put a spotlight on the treatment of immigrant workers and championed unionization as one vehicle for improving their lives.

Miguel Olvera, a worker at Dakota Premium for the last six years, said employees are frustrated by management's refusal to bargain with the union.

“We, the workers at Dakota Premium, wish the company would sit down and negotiate with the union we voted in,” he told the crowd. “We need a fair contract and we need it now.”

Bill Pearson, president of UFCW Local 789, vowed, “We will not stop until this plant has a union contract and the rights of these workers has been recognized.”

Groups sponsoring the rally included the Student Labor Action Project, United States Student Association, Minnesota AFL-CIO, St. Paul Area Trades & Labor Assembly, Jobs with Justice, Resource Center of the Americas and MPIRG.

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For more information

Visit the UFCW Local 789 website, www.ufcw789.org