Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao on Supreme Court Decision in Poultry Worker Case

To: National Desk

Contact: Lisa Kruska of the U.S. Department of Labor, 202-693-4676

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement on the decision today by the Supreme Court in IBP v. Alvarez and Tum v. Barber Foods:

"Today's unanimous Supreme Court decision in IBP v. Alvarez and Tum v. Barber Foods, is a tremendous victory for low-wage workers across the country and the Department of Labor. The Supreme Court vindicated the department's position that employees in meat and poultry processing plants must be paid for the time they spend walking between the place where they put on and take off protective equipment and the place where they process the meat. These private cases, in which the government filed amicus briefs, are the culmination of this Administration's initiative to compel poultry processors to pay their workers for all hours worked. We will now move ahead to assure that all affected companies pay their employees correctly."