EYE ON OPERATIONS

TheU.S. Department of Labor saidTyson Foods Inc., Springdale, Ark., agreed to a nationwide injunction that will require the company to pay its poultry processing workers for all hours that they work.  In addition, Tyson Foods has agreed to pay almost 3,000 workers at its Blountsville, Ala., facility $500,000 in overtime back wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

Officials said the agreement ensures that Tyson poultry processing workers will be paid for all the time they spend at the plant putting on and taking off protective and sanitary items, a process known as donning and doffing, as well as for the time they spend washing and sanitizing themselves and the items. The workers also must be compensated for all time they spend walking and waiting that occurs during the workday. Tyson Foods must keep accurate records of this time.


The (Mobile, Ala.) Press-Register reported thatDairy Fresh of Alabama LLCintends to close its Prichard, Ala., milk plant at the end of July, resulting in the loss of 116 jobs. A subsidiary ofNational Dairy LLC, Dallas, Dairy Fresh said it will consolidate production in Hattiesburg, Miss., and Dothan, Ala.

Spokesman Fred Stern told the paper that the other operations have capacity and are more centrally located. He said all three plants -- as well as another site in Baker, La. -- process and bottle milk, and bottle other dairy products and fruit drinks sold under the Dairy Fresh, Sunni-land and Jersey Farm brands.