Tyson Foods Sued

A lawsuit filed against Springdale based Tyson Foods, Inc. claims current and former employees are now owed back-wages. There are 16 lawsuits filed in Georgia and Alabama against the Fortune 500 company. And what it boils down to is this: plaintiffs say the time that some employees take to put on the equipment and travel to their plant or worksite should be paid time. Attorney Robert Camp, heading up the lawsuit, says that time adds up and the employees should be compensated for it. The time it takes to walk to their worksite after putting on equipment, can take 10-15 minutes one way, up to six times a day, is the issue. We called Tyson Foods, and asked if they would like to participate in the interview with Mr. Camp, but they delclined our request. Tyson issued this statement: "CONTRARY TO CLAIMS BY PLAINTIFFS AGAINST TYSON AND OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY, WE BELIEVE WE PAY OUR PEOPLE FOR THE TIME THEY DEVOTE TO THEIR JOBS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SIMILAR SUITS FILED AGAINST TYSON AND OTHER COMPANIES SINCE THE 1990S ABOUT THIS MATTER..." Camp says, "Its a great statement, but the fact of the matter is, with me, that statement doesnt have any basis." So if this lawsuit comes to fruition, it could affect between 7 to 8 thousand present and former employees of Tyson - by rewarding them $8,000 - $9,000 each - setting Tyson back $4 billion dollars. Tyson says a similar lawsuit was filed against them in Philadelphia, but the court ruled in favor of Tyson.