RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The nation's largest pork producer is dropping a lawsuit in Virginia against union organizers and will let them hold an election at the world's largest hog slaughterhouse.
The move was announced in a joint statement Monday from Virginia-based Smithfield Foods and the United Food and Commercial Workers union.
The union agreed to end a public campaign against Smithfield that included calls for product boycotts. In return, it will be able to hold an organizing election at the slaughterhouse in Tar Heel, N.C.
The settlement came as a jury Monday was about to hear a federal lawsuit brought by Smithfield. The company alleged the union's campaign was extortion and racketeering. The UFCW said it was using economic pressure to achieve a lawful goal.