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Justices Skeptical Of Tyson Foods In Class-Action Case

The company believes workers shouldn't be able to rely on statistics and averages to prove their case under federal labor law.

The Supreme Court appears likely to sustain a multimillion dollar judgment against Tyson Foods Inc. in a pay dispute with more than 3,000 workers at a pork-processing plant in Iowa.

In arguments Tuesday, the justices indicated that they would not embrace Tyson's invitation to use the case to impose new limits on the ability of workers to band together to dispute pay and workplace issues.

The Springdale, Arkansas-based company wants the high court to throw out the $5.8 million judgment and declare that workers should not be able to rely on statistics and averages to prove their case under federal labor law.

Justice Anthony Kennedy signaled his skepticism of Tyson's case when he told the company's lawyer, "I just don't understand your argument."

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