On March 18, the UFCW responded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that it will instruct the Food Safety and Inspection Service to extend waivers allowing pork and poultry facilities to operate at higher line speeds. Earlier this year, the USDA released two studies that showed the adverse impact of line speeds on poultry and pork workers.
“Our members work tirelessly every day in America’s pork and poultry plants, helping families put food on the table,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement. “They know firsthand that these jobs are already physically demanding and high-risk. Extending these waivers without additional safety measures will only lead to more injuries, more workplace accidents, and a greater risk of food contamination.”
“We are again calling for a full range of safety measures to include additional staffing, improved reporting of workplace injuries, expanded access to early and adequate medical treatment, and job modifications that minimize ergonomic stressors,” Perrone added. “The safety of our food depends on the safety of the workers who process it. The decision to allow facilities to operate at higher speeds without any additional safety measures only puts workers and consumers at risk.”
