Tyson Foods lawsuits to be heard in Georgia

Pre-trial proceedings in 18 labor lawsuits against Tyson Foods will be heard in the same federal court in Georgia.

The Springdale-based company - the largest meat processor in the world - is defending itself against accusations that workers weren't paid for the time they spent changing into or out of protective clothing or walking to their work stations.

A federal judicial panel says at least the pre-trial proceedings will be heard in the Georgia before U.S. District Judge Clay D. Land.

In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court said Tyson-owned IBP plant in South Dakota must compensate workers for changing clothes and walking to work stations. The ruling prompted class-action lawsuits against Tyson and other U.S. meat processors.

The 18 lawsuits were filed in 10 federal district courts in Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
(Associated Press)