Poultry company accused in suit of hiring illegal workers

SALISBURY, Md. - Employees of Perdue Farms Inc. are accused in a class-action lawsuit of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

The plaintiffs allege that Perdue has conspired to hire large numbers of illegal immigrants, driving down wages of legal workers below market levels.

The complaint was filed in federal court in Alabama.

Perdue spokesman Luis Luna says the lawsuit lacks merit. He says Perdue follows hiring laws and verifies through the Department of Homeland Security that employees are eligible to work in the United States.

The plants named in the complaint are in Perdue's home of Salisbury as well as Accomac, Va.; Bridgewater, Va; Concord, N.C.; Cromwell, Ky.; Dillon, S.C.; Dothan, Ala.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Georgetown, Del.; Lewistown, N.C.; Milford, Del.; Monterey, Tenn.; Perry, Ga.; Rockingham, N.C.; Showell, Md.; and Washington, Ind.