The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, October 19, 1994            TAG: 9410190394
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: D01  EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: From staff reports 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   23 lines

N.C. SMITHFIELD PACKERS PACKERS JOIN VA. WORKERS IN UNION

Reversing a defeat 12 years ago, 420 workers at Smithfield Packing Co. in Kinston, N.C., voted last week to join the Laborers' International Union of North America. The ham-packing and -processing workers finally voted to join their 700 counterparts at Smithfield's packing plant in its hometown. Those workers voted to join an INUNA local 30 years ago. ``What makes this win even sweeter is the fact that we tried to organize the Kinston plant 12 years ago,'' said Jack Wilkinson, LIUNA vice president and regional manager. ``We never even got close to the front door. This time, we came to North Carolina with renewed enthusiasm and a commitment to win for the workers. That made all the difference.'' by CNB