WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents hundreds of thousands of meatpacking and food processing workers, released a statement condemning the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule that would increase line speeds in meatpacking plants, presenting a great harm to workers.
Mark Lauritsen, Director of the Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing Division and International Vice President at UFCW International, said:
“UFCW members work tirelessly to feed America in meatpacking plants every single day. Their work is difficult and often dangerous, but it is essential to helping families put food on the table. The Trump administration’s proposed rule endangers hard-working union and non-union workers alike, all in service to the bottom line of big meatpackers.
“The USDA studies released just last year confirmed that increasing line speeds increases the risk of harm to workers in poultry and pork plants. This proposed rule ignores those studies and seemingly any consideration for worker safety. Workers in non-union plants, who don’t have walking stewards, safety committees or any contract protections, are especially vulnerable. Removing line speed limits and not having proper staffing opens the door to slower production due to injuries, which will do nothing to lower prices and could instead have the opposite effect.
“Consumers aren’t safe either. Coupled with the administration’s attacks on food inspectors, increasing line speeds put our nation’s food safety in jeopardy. The safety of our food depends on the safety of the workers who process it.
“Uncapping line speeds also raises the possibility of plant closures, which would throw hundreds of people out of work with each closure. Rural communities, where meatpacking plants are often local economic engines, would be especially impacted.
“Today’s move risks taking us back to the days of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, where terrible working conditions in meatpacking plants left workers sick and injured at alarming rates. Meatpacking workers have fought for decades to bring our food supply chain to where it is today, and we will fight to ensure their safety on the job.”
BACKGROUND
- The UFCW has long opposed increasing line speeds, including the Trump administration’s decision to extend USDA’s waiver program that allowed certain plants to operate at faster rates.
- The USDA’s waiver extension in March of last year came two months after multiple studies by the department confirmed the adverse effects of heightened line speeds for poultry and swine processing.
- To minimize the proven risks to both consumers and workers associated with high line speeds, the UFCW continues to call for increased safety measures, including additional staffing, improved reporting of workplace injuries, expanded access to early and adequate medical treatment and job modifications that minimize ergonomic stressors.
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The UFCW International is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.2 million workers and their families in grocery, meatpacking, food processing, healthcare, cannabis, retail, and other essential industries. UFCW members serve our communities in all 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW at ufcw.org.