The People’s Republic

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that Cambridge has its hands in state, national and even world affairs. Here’s what happened this week in the People’s Republic of Cambridge:

Processing plant workers in North Carolina, laboring in the world’s largest pork slaughterhouse under strenuous conditions and facing high risk of injury, can rest easier: the Cambridge City Council is on their side.

Labor activists for workers of the Smithfield Packing plant in Tar Heel, N.C., have been publicizing the working conditions at the plant for the past several years. Recently, they have begun directing their attention toward communities that make up Smithfield’s largest markets, to rally support for a boycott until conditions improve. Greater Boston is the plant’s third largest market.

Their efforts have been largely successful in Cambridge, culminating Monday night with an official city resolution supporting their cause. During the public comment period, several fifth-graders implored their elected officials to support the North Carolina workers.

“Our great-grandparents fought for unions when they were working in sweatshops and succeeded. Now, because of what they did, our lives are better,” 11-year-old Stella Plenk told the council. “Smithfield treats their workers as if they are slaves … They know if the workers stick together and become friends, they will be stronger than the company and will be able to win their demands.”

Joshua Nolan, 11, also pleaded for the council to support the pork plant workers in the south.

“We want the City Council to also support the workers in their struggle for dignity, fair wages, safe working conditions and their right to organize into a union. Several workers from the plant described firsthand the terrible conditions,” he said.

Several others, including members of the Massachusetts Jobs for Justice organization and a Boston University divinity student, showed up at Monday’s meeting to support the slaughterhouse cause.

The resolution, which details the City Council’s support for the workers’ struggle for better wages, working conditions and union organization, is being sent to Smithfield officials and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

City councilors Anthony Galluccio and Craig Kelley first introduced the resolution in February, but City Councilor Marjorie Decker charter righted the order, effectively pushing the matter to a future meeting.

The City Council voted Monday to send a letter to the Walpole Board of Selectmen and the Massachusetts Municipal Association to voice its support for affordable housing developments under Chapter 40B. Chapter 40B is a controversial state law that allows developers to bypass local development laws when constructing affordable housing. Developers often use the rule to build in suburban areas, which often have less affordable housing. The Cambridge City Council declaration was in response to a letter from Walpole Selectmen asking Cambridge officials for support for trying to block the law.