Two federal class action lawsuits have been filed this month against Simmons Foods Inc. and Christian Alcoholics and Addicts in Recovery (CAAIR).
Simmons is a major poultry company that provides meat to companies like KFC, Walmart, PetSmart and Rachael Ray’s Nutrish pet food.
The suits allege that Simmons, along with CAAIR – a rural retreat in Oklahoma that provides addiction treatment and job training to men convicted of nonviolent crimes – have engaged in racketeering, human trafficking, and labor law violations.
CAAIR is a program that puts hundreds of men a year to work slaughtering chickens as an alternative to prison, but according to some of the men sent there, prison may be better.
“We felt like nobody had ever listened to us,” Plaintiff, Lucas Miller-Allen, told Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting in a phone interview. “When all of our drug courts send us there, it’s like you don’t exist. It feels like you’re forgotten, like you’re thrown away. Like slavery. You’re dreading waking up each day, working for free, for nothing.”
The lawsuits claim the program violates state and federal labor laws, which require employees to be paid at least minimum wage. They also allege that Janet Wilkerson, founder of CAAIR, violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act by “conducting the affairs of CAAIR through a pattern of holding persons to involuntary servitude.” Simmons Foods is accused of conspiring with Wilkerson.
The complaint reads:
“Drug and alcohol treatment was never the intended purpose of CAAIR. CAAIR’s purpose was and is to provide income to itself and its founders while providing cheap labor to third-party agricultural interests affiliated with CAAIR.” It also states that CAAIR “operates a forced labor camp – enterprises long outlawed in Oklahoma, in the United States and, indeed, throughout the civilized world.”
According to Reveal News, the plaintiffs are seeking unpaid minimum wage and overtime pay, along with attorneys’ fees and other damages.
Wilkerson declined to comment directly on the lawsuit, but stated via email that CAAIR stands by the work they do and intends to “fully defend” themselves in court.
Simmons Foods did not respond to Reveal News’ requests for comment.
