Frankfort, KY – (June 28,
2001) Kentucky’s Roman Catholic bishops joined with 18 national religious
and community organizations in asking Secretary Elaine Chao to seek a
Department of Labor enforcement action for back pay to poultry industry
workers. Estimates by the DOL place the total owed in back wages at 350
million dollars or more.
In a meeting on Tuesday June 28th
organized by the National Interfaith Committee on Worker Justice, Catholic
Conference of Kentucky staff hand delivered a letter from the bishops to
Secretary Chao. In part, the bishops urged the Department of Labor ensure that
poultry workers be paid for all hours worked in accordance with federal labor
law. Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, Bishop John J. McRaith, Bishop J. Kendrick
Williams, Bishop Robert W. Muench signed the letter asking Secretary Chao to
follow-up on a 2000 field survey which found wage violations in the 51 poultry
plants investigated. Last month more than 150 national religious and community
leaders co-signed a letter to Secretary Chao asking that she enter negotiations
with the poultry industry to resolve the wage dispute.
Scott Wegenast, a policy analyst
with the Catholic Conference, said, "Secretary Chao stated that she is open
to listening to all sides on this issue and not just the industry before making
a decision." In recent months, the industry and 18 members of the Senate,
including Kentucky Senator Jim Bunning have pressured Chao to drop the
investigation. Wegenast also stated, "The decision by Secretary Chao in
this dispute will set a precedence for all future actions by the Department. It
is a critical time for all workers, especially those in low-wage
industries."
The Department of Labor is expected
to make its decision in the coming months. Secretary Chao stated that she is
struggling to make all the necessary appointments to achieve full staffing.
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