Poultry plant workers in Delaware recently held a vote to determine whether to retain or decertify their union representation.
80% of Mountaire Farms employees in Selbyville who were members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 27 union reportedly voted for its removal.
Mountaire President Phillip Plylar called the move “a huge step forward” after 44 years of representation.
The reason the union was ousted is unclear, though this is the second time workers have voted in favor of its removal.
The results of the first vote, last summer, were thrown out by the NLRB due a complaint by the union over the timing of the vote.
As Delaware Public Media points out, it’s a case that bucks the national trend, where unions are being organized in some businesses and industries for the first time.
While the Teamsters will still represent some 200 Selbyville workers, the ousted union was representing around 1,000.
DPM says Selbyville is the only Mountaire plant in the country with a union presence.
