Can Paula Deen Butter Up Her Critics?
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Smithsonian
THE SOUTH isn't necessarily known as being all that hospitable to organized labor. So how might Paula Deen, one of the South's most celebrated culinary ambassadors, be received next week when she promotes her new book at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History?
It depends. A shot at meeting Deen will surely draw her fans, but her affiliation with Smithfield, the world's largest hog processor, is drawing the attention of labor activists. She probably won't be able to soothe them with an extra helpin' of butter.
As part of its national campaign against Smithfield Foods, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, plans to "greet" Deen at next week's promotions event for her new book, "It Ain't All About the Cooking." According to a union e-mail:
[The Deen-Smithfield] partnership ignores the organizing efforts of over 5,500 Smithfield Packing workers in Tar Heel, N.C., where workers' injuries have gone up by 200% since 2003 and where workers are constantly enduring harsh working conditions characterized by fear, threats, abuse, and intimidation.Deen is set to hit the road later this spring on a multi-city "Paula Deen Live!" tour. As local blogger Food Network Addict wrote recently: "Paula's a rock star, now. I have no doubt she'll sell out all the venues she's slated to appear."
Will the protests follow?
» "Right to Work States and Laws" [About.com]
» "Paula Deen’s Joyous Recipe for Success" [Smithsonian Resident Associate Program]
» "Justice at Smithfield Campaign" [UFCWIU]
» "No Sausage for Oil! (Or, You Know, Whatever Else You Want to Yell at Paula Deen.)" [Brunch Bird]
» "Hit the Road, Paula" [Food Network Addict]
Courtesy Food Network
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