Appeals Court Sides With Jennie-O In Labor Dispute

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A Minnesota appeals court says Jennie-O doesn't have to pay production employees for the time they take putting on and taking off their uniforms.

The six-year dispute between the turkey giant and its employees was closely watched by other Minnesota businesses. The attorney for the 13,000 past and current employees covered in the lawsuit, Tom Pursell, says the workers are very disappointed with the ruling.

Pursell says a decision is still pending on whether they'll take the case to the state Supreme Court.

A similar lawsuit against Gold'n Plump Poultry of St. Cloud by 3,000 employees ended with a $1.2 million out-of-court settlement two years ago.