The United Food and Commercial Workers local chapter representing workers at the Guyman, OK. plant has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor alleging that the company pays low wage rates to temporary workers.
David Eaheart representing Seaboard confirmed that the Company makes use of the H-2B visa program for temporary workers. Over the past five years this procedure has been in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement with the UFCW. Seaboard claims that full-time and temporary workers are paid the same rate and receive the same benefits. Starting wage is now $18.50 per hour. This is higher than the average hourly wage for workers in animal slaughtering and processing plants that amounts to $16.16 according to the North American Meat Institute, citing Department of Labor data.