WASHINGTON — In a setback to business, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a $5.8 million judgment against Tyson Foods Inc. in a pay dispute with more than 3,000 workers at an Iowa plant.
The court’s 6-2 ruling rejected new limits Tyson asked the high court to impose on the ability of workers to band together to challenge pay and workplace issues. It was the second time this year the court has ruled against business interests in class-action cases.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion that upheld lower-court rulings in favor of employees of Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson. The workers sued to be paid for time spent putting on and taking off protective work clothes and equipment before wielding sharp knives in slaughtering and processing the animals.
Tyson argued in its appeal that it should not have been forced to defend a class-action lawsuit on behalf of workers at its Iowa plant. The employees do their jobs on the plant’s slaughter or processing floors. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.
