At issue is overtime pay, with the plaintiffs alleging that the poultry processing giant is in violation of federal law because it did not pay overtime.
The workers and former workers were sent a notice recently, outlining their rights and what they should expect should they decide to participate in the suit. (A copy of it is posted separately on this Web site).
Pilgrim's Pride has declined to comment specifically on the matter.
"As a matter of Company policy, we do not comment on pending or threatened litigation," Ray Atkinson, Director of Corporate Communications, said. "However, Pilgrim's Pride seeks to comply with all federal laws concerning employment, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, and federal courts, including the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, have upheld the company's pay practices. Pilgrim's Pride believes that we did properly pay our employees, and we intend to show that in the lawsuit."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/6/211065