Several longtime female employees of Pilgrim's Pride chicken plant in Chattanooga asked the City Council not to set new odor controls for the facility.
The council is set to vote next Tuesday night on a proposal from Chairman Ken Smith.
The women, who are members of the Steelworkers union, said the measure could cause the plant to close and result in them losing their jobs.
Another speaker at the council meeting said the chicken plant was there first - before new residential developments.