Raising Health & Safety Standards Together
Working at a meatpacking facility can come with its risks, especially when dealing with heavy machinery and hazardous materials. Thankfully, there are systems in place to help keep you safe on the job. But when employers aren’t doing enough to make our facilities safe, we have the right to speak up — and with a union, we can come together to make sure we’re heard.
One of the many reasons packing & processing workers want to start a union is to guarantee safer workplaces – from better access to safety trainings to greater accountability for our employers when they don’t uphold safety standards at our plants.
Below, we’ve mapped out the ways that meatpacking workers are making their plants safer with a union, along with resources you can use to protect yourself on the job when your employer isn’t doing their part. Want to learn more? Connect with a UFCW organizer to talk about how you could make your packinghouse job safer with a union on your side.
OSHA Compliance Overview
At UFCW, our Health and Safety office (OHS) works to enforce OSHA’s workplace regulations and educate our members on their rights to a safe workplace, so we can maintain the highest possible standards in our meatpacking plants.
If you believe your union employer has violated OSHA’s workplace regulations, you can visit this page to file a complaint directly with OSHA. And, if you need help enforcing OSHA’s rules in your packinghouse, we’re here to help you protect your well-being on the job.
For non-union plants, reach out to one of our union organizers and we can help you start a union at your plant to win the same added protections.
Line Speeds (Training and enforcement of regulations)
Our meatpacking jobs are only as safe as our production lines. Without safe line speeds, comprehensive training, and employers who enforce federal regulations, our jobs would be much more dangerous.
One of the best ways to enforce safe line speeds in your meatpacking facilities is to start a union and stand up for your rights when your employer tries to make you work faster than you know is safe. UFCW has helped meatpacking staff all over the country maintain life speeds in their facilities, all while fighting to improve the laws that dictate line speeds in our production plants in the first place.
Ergonomic Support
Packing & processing jobs are demanding, and the work itself can be highly repetitive because these jobs involve doing the exact same motions all day long to keep production lines moving. Because of this repetition, it’s crucial for you to take breaks and make sure you have good ergonomic support at your workstation.
With a union, you and your coworkers can come together to ensure you have access to regular breaks, good ergonomic support, and any other workplace protections you need to avoid getting injured.
Surface Safety / Cleanliness Content
Your well-being on the job revolves around the cleanliness of your facility. If your employer isn’t doing enough to keep your processing plant clean, you and your coworkers could get hurt or face exposure to hazardous materials. Below, you can find a comprehensive overview of everything your employer is required to do to keep your packinghouses clean and safe, according to USADA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services Department (FSIS).
If you need help enforcing these regulations at your meatpacking facility, reach out to us for assistance. Our representatives can chat with you about what’s happening in your packinghouse so we can work together to hold your employer to a fair standard.
PPE Resources
When you’re on the clock, you need easy access to high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) that can keep you safe from biological hazards and other pathogens or contaminants. Below, we’ve linked to OSHA’s full list of all the PPE they require your employer to provide in your facility:
If you need access to better PPE at your meatpacking job, or you’re worried that your employer isn’t enforcing OSHA’s PPE requirements correctly, our union organizers are here to help you win the voice you need to stand up for adequate protective equipment in your facility.
Your Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Without the proper time to rest and recover from injury and illness, we risk longer term health issues. Thankfully, with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you have the right to request unpaid leave when you need to take an unplanned break from your job.
We’re here to make sure that packing & processing workers know their rights to FMLA and to make sure our employers honor those rights. See below for a pamphlet that breaks down how the FMLA program works, what it takes for you to apply, and how you can protect your rights at work when you’re dealing with a serious medical or family situation.
Safety Trainings for UFCW Members
Even if you’ve worked as a meatpacker for years, it’s always important to stay updated on how you can keep yourself healthy and safe on the job. UFCW offices all over the country partner with OSHA and other agencies to provide training programs that give you and your coworkers the knowledge you need to keep your workplace as safe as possible.
Learn How to Hold Your Non-Union Plant to Higher Safety Standards
If you’re not a UFCW member, we’re still here to help you protect your well-being on the job! Fill out this form to talk with a UFCW organizer about what’s happening at your meatpacking facility and how you can take action by uniting with your coworkers for a better future.
Learn More About the Meatpacking Union
