WYOMING -- A co-op of meat farmers embroiled in a lawsuit over wages now faces possible unionization of its work force.

Employees of Michigan Turkey Producers filed a petition to be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 951. An election could be held in November, said Chad Pemberton, a union representative.

The union represents more than 28,000 Michigan workers, including employees at Meijer, Kroger, Plumb's and Rite Aid. The co-op's plants at 2140 Chicago Drive SW and 1100 Hall St. SW have about 550 employees.

"There's quite a few (workers) that don't get raises for three or four years, and then when they do get a raise, it's like 20 cents," Pemberton said. "The union can help negotiate higher wages for what they deserve.

"Most of what the workers are asking for is general respect."

Pemberton said the majority of workers, who are mostly Hispanics from Mexico and Central America, are paid $8 to $9 per hour. In addition to a consistent wage schedule, the union could work with management on a grievance procedure regarding inadequate job tools, verbal abuse from supervisors and on-the-job injuries, he said.

A statement from the 10-year-old co-op of 16 farms in Allegan, Barry, Kent and Ottawa counties claims that Michigan Turkey Producers "has a long history of being a fair, safe and desirable place of employment" with a low injury rate for its industry and a large portion of the work force hired by referral of existing employees.

Employees got a wage increase July 5 "despite a nearly two year lag in profitable market conditions," the co-op stated. A "union environment" could foster "strikes, retention of difficult co-workers, and a potentially adversarial workplace" that might stunt the co-op's growth, the statement claims.