UNDATED - More than 5,000 Pilgrim's Pride poultry workers - including those at one Northeast Georgia plant - are preparing for what their union says could be the largest mobilization of employees faced by the Texas-based company to date.<br>
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Officials with the United Food and Commercial Workers say the August 27 expiration of the employees' contract at the processing plant in Elberton and the company's refusal to extend the contract pending negotiations could send workers to the picket line.<br>
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They say contract talks are stalled because Pilgrim's Pride has failed to offer an agreement that does not undermine the workers' living standards.<br>
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A statement issued by Pilgrim's Pride says the company "is committed to remaining competitive in the poultry industry so that we can provide good jobs with competitive wages and benefits for our 40,000 employees. We continue to negotiate in good faith with the UFCW, and it would be inappropriate to discuss details of these negotiations publicly."<br>
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