Case Study #4: Jobs With Justice

Situation: In 2007, Jobs With Justice, a national advocate for workers’ rights, was sued under federal racketeering law (RICO) by pork processing giant Smithfield Foods. The lawsuit, which also named labor unions and grassroots activists, was seen as an attempt to intimidate critics of the company’s labor practices and to muzzle the free speech activities of those who supported them, including unions, city councils, citizen and immigrants rights groups, and religious organizations.

Solution: Emily developed a comprehensive communications plan that included a national media relations strategy to draw attention to this corporate attack on basic First Amendment rights. The plan also included recommendations for an innovative viral web marketing campaign, outreach to traditional and non-traditional allies, and coordination with legal and grassroots teams, as well as a budget and identification of staffing and other support needs.

Results: Due to swift-moving developments in the case, the client decided against implementing the full communications plan and to focus only on media relations. Emily secured significant national media attention on this issue, including a New York Times article by legal reporter Adam Liptak, entitled, “A Corporate View of Mafia Tactics: Lobbying, Protesting and Citing Upton Sinclair,” (Feb. 5, 2008, Sidebar column). The Times piece sparked responses on blogs and among members of the free speech community around the country.

Emily later joined JWJ in leading a presentation on RICO laws and the First Amendment at a meeting of the Free Expression Network in Washington, DC. In October 2008, Smithfield settled the case against JWJ and its allies.