The USDA announced new waivers to increase line speeds in U.S. poultry and pork plants.
But Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union, which represents over 15,000 poultry workers at facilities across the southern U.S., as well as meatpacking and processing workers in other parts of the country, reacted to the announcement.
“Increased line speeds will hurt workers,” Appelbaum said.
“It’s not a maybe, it’s a definite, and increased production speeds will jeopardize the health and safety of every American that eats chicken.”
He also says the announcement by the USDA echoes the same lack of consideration they had for our essential food processing workers during the first Trump administration, and it will put all workers at risk.
“Worker safety must be a priority, and these facilities cannot operate at these speeds without increased staffing, which cannot happen the way they are constructed now,” Appelbaum added.
