In a recent development, a federal judge in Oklahoma has granted class certification for a lawsuit against Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. and other poultry producers. The lawsuit alleges that these companies failed to compensate broiler chicken growers, affecting as many as 24,354 individuals since 2008.
According to the plaintiffs, Pilgrim’s and its co-conspirators participated in a conspiracy using either a No-Poach Agreement (NPA) and/or an Information Sharing Agreement (ISA). The NPA allegedly prevented growers from switching between integrators and discouraged them from moving into areas with existing integrators.
Pilgrim’s remains the sole defendant in the case after other poultry businesses, including Tyson Foods Inc., Koch Foods, and Perdue Foods, settled for millions of dollars in recent years.
In response to the class certification, Pilgrim’s Pride has reiterated its position, denying the existence of an overarching agreement among poultry companies. The company has consistently denied the allegations in previous court filings.
This development marks a significant step forward for broiler chicken growers seeking compensation for alleged wage suppression.
