RICHMOND, Va. – A jury will consider Smithfield Foods Inc.’s racketeering and extortion allegations against the United Food and Commercial Works International (UFCW) in its effort to organize workers at the world’s largest pork slaughtering plant.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne rejected the UFCW’s motion for a ruling that the union did nothing illegal, leaving the matter on the docket for trial starting Oct. 20.