[The agreement with the Labor Department] does not constitute an admission by Swift to any violation, ... Going forward, we're going to continue to strive to hire and attract a diverse workforce. |
Almost every packer has operational flexibility. |
Clearly, you don't want to sweep this under the rug and say it's insignificant, because it's not, ... Obviously, it puts on a spotlight to ensure discipline around compliance with processes and systems in place, and certainly, we'll continue to put our best foot forward for hiring. |
For those people who have been in this business their entire lives, this is about the toughest market they've ever seen. |
If someone presents valid documents upon applying for a job, we are not allowed to investigate further by the law. |
Job offers are extended in order as people return their interest forms, ... In terms of those numbers, it's in the course of business. It would be based on ongoing needs. |
No reasonable jury could have reached this verdict, based on the evidence presented in court. |
That's one specific example of job loss that was related to the border closure. It's tied right back to the BSE issue. |
That's primarily a function of the boxed-beef prices, which are today above five-year averages. Overall, I think it shows that demand domestically for U.S. beef is still high. |
The audit review found that all product that was shipped to Japan during the recent export window fully conformed to established export program standards. |
Then, it only becomes a question of getting inspectors back in the plant to recertify. From a business standpoint, there is no impact because there isn't a single U.S. company authorized to ship to Japan today because of the border being closed. |
This is great news for the marketplace, but it is not going to change anything overnight. |
This settlement does not constitute any admission of guilt for any violations. Swift will continue to pursue its goal of attracting and hiring a diverse work force. |
We have received feedback from employees both formally through requests for time off as well as through some informal channels that there was a lot of interest in participating in whatever event might be scheduled. |
We look forward to working with the USDA to address the issues that were identified in their audit. |