Posts Categorized: Meat Packing

UFCW International President Marc Perrone supported the U.S. House Appropriations Committee for taking steps this month to protect the safety of food and workers at our country’s swine slaughter plants.

With the goal of putting workers and families first, the amendment passed by the committee and championed by U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and David Price (NC-04) aims to halt the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection rule that increases pork plant line speeds and puts American workers and consumers at risk.

The amendment would prevent the USDA from spending funds to implement the rule. Perrone’s statement reads as follows:

“America’s food safety and the safety of the workers who produce our food must never take a backseat to corporate profits. Today’s vote to defund this dangerous line speed rule makes clear that Congress is ready to honor that commitment and the USDA must do the same.

“Increasing line speeds needlessly threatens the quality and health of America’s food supply and cruelly endangers the lives of workers who help produce that food. The proposed USDA rule would dramatically weaken protections that Americans depend on to be able to select safe, healthy food to feed their families every day.

“Our members in pork plants nationwide understand from firsthand experience that the USDA’s proposed rule would hurt workers, consumers, and our economy. We urge the USDA to stop this rule and do its job to protect American workers and consumers.”

Members of UFCW Local 1625 who work at Florida Beef in Zolfo Springs, Fla., recently ratified a first contract that improves wages and benefits. The successful negotiations of their first contract comes less than a year after the workers joined UFCW Local 1625 in July 2018.

The three-year contract provides the 58 slaughterhouse workers with guaranteed raises starting with ratification, eligibility to participate in the company’s health insurance plan, as well as six paid holidays and paid vacation. In addition, the company has agreed to make contributions to the 401(k) retirement plans for employees. The company will also provide work boots, gloves and knives at no cost to workers. This is the first slaughterhouse organized by UFCW Local 1625 and the first time these workers have had wage and benefit improvements.