Avian Influenza and Poultry Processing Workers
Threat of Global Avian Influenza (H5N1) Pandemic
Recent outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1) are generating fears of a global pandemic. The H5N1 avian virus has already killed 95 people and millions of poultry and wild birds. Scientists have discovered the avian virus in wild bird populations that migrate across continents. World health officials claim that the virus is steadily mutating, and could acquire certain genetic changes that would make it easy to pass from human to human.
The World Bank estimates that a flu pandemic lasting a year could cost the global economy up to $800 billion. Milan Brahmbhatt, the World Bank’s chief Asian economist, asserts that, “The most immediate economic impact is not from death or sickness, but because of uncoordinated efforts to avoid infection….This impacts the demand side in terms of the transport and retail sectors and restaurants, and there’s also a supply shock from absenteeism at work.”
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) warns of the threat to domestic poultry: “The spread of the infection to domestic poultry in other European and neighboring countries (from France) is highly likely and may even be made worse by the arrival in Europe of possibly infected birds from Africa and the Middle East.” Many nations, especially in Asia and Africa, lack the financial resources to put in place vital surveillance and reporting mechanisms or compensate farmers when their poultry are culled. In recognition of the economic threat posed by an avian influenza pandemic, the World Bank has proposed the creation of a $1 billion fund to assist developing countries deal with a bird flu pandemic.
These plans fall seriously short, however, in that they fail to include poultry worker protections. There remains an urgent need to address the immediate health and economic problems faced by those engaged directly in the processing of poultry, which are at high risk of infection. Where virus outbreaks have occurred around the world, small farmers and workers have suffered the economic impact of the death or culling of poultry flocks and the drop in sales of processed poultry. Truly comprehensive international worker health and safety programs have not yet been developed.
There also have been no effective plans made for targeted immunization of poultry and poultry workers. Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, claims, “There’s not a lot we can do to solve the national problem because most influenza vaccine is in private hands.”
Viewed from the perspective of the health and safety rights of poultry workers, responses to suspected H5N1 must not only include the right to protective equipment, training in handling infected animals, but also the right to refuse to work and the right to report cases of suspected H5N1 without fear of dismissal or persecution. It should also include the right of unions to request independent assessment by medical experts and veterinarians of those affected farms and breeding facilities.
UFCW and the American Poultry Industry
Poultry processing is a major industry in the United States, employing more than 200,000 workers and generating approximately $35 billion in annual revenue. The value of U.S. broiler exports increased 16 percent in 2004 to $1.7 billion.
UFCW represents approximately 60,000 front-line poultry workers throughout North America (see maps). These workers perform a variety of different jobs, from chicken catchers to packagers. They slaughter and process millions of chickens, turkeys, and other birds for human consumption. While UFCW negotiates poultry contracts in every Region, these union members are concentrated in the Southeast and South central United States:
Overall, 48 separate UFCW local unions maintain 162 collective bargaining agreements covering poultry workers. UFCW negotiates contracts with Allen Family Foods, Cagle’s-Keystone, ConAgra, Wayne Farms, Foster Poultry Farms, Gold Kist, House of Raeford Farms, Koch Foods, Maple Leaf Farms, Perdue Farms, Pilgrim’s Pride, Sanderson Farms, Tyson Foods, and numerous other independent poultry producers.
Because of UFCW’s position in the industry, it must ultimately take a lead role in advancing the health and safety interests of poultry workers in North America. It is critical that all worker organizations around the world be consulted and integrated into the effort to avoid the tragic loss of human life that this disease has the capacity to cause. UFCW stands ready to work with all interested stakeholders, including worker representatives, government agencies and poultry companies.
For A map of the U.S. poultry industry membership: Click Here
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