U.S. considers faster hog slaughtering based on plant staffing - union
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[October 12, 2021] By
Tom Polansek
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Biden
administration is considering a proposal that could allow some pork
plants to slaughter pigs more quickly if they boost staffing, a union
official said, after a U.S. court struck down a Trump-era rule that
removed line speed limits.
The proposal put forward by Quality Pork Processors, operator of a large
Minnesota slaughterhouse, and union officials could benefit companies
like WH Group Ltd's Smithfield Foods and JBS USA, the North American
unit of Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA.
Faster slaughtering would help them increase pork production at a time
of high demand and soaring bacon prices.
Seven pork plants were initially able to operate without limits on line
speeds after a 2019 U.S. Department of Agriculture rule change that did
not need congressional approval. Six of the plants had previously
received waivers to run at a faster pace.
A federal judge in March invalidated the policy and forced the plants to
slow down following a United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union
lawsuit against the USDA over concerns about worker safety.
The second-biggest U.S. pig producer, Seaboard Foods, which did not
previously have a waiver, sped up an Oklahoma pork plant last year under
the 2019 rule. Workers told Reuters the faster line speeds increased
injuries, and there were not enough employees to run faster production
lines safely.
Under the new proposal, Quality Pork Processors would be able to speed
up again if the USDA and unions agree staffing levels are high enough,
said Richard Morgan, president of the UFCW local that represents the
plant's workers. He said staffing levels could be monitored daily.
"The number of staffing would dictate what the line speed can be that
day," he said. "It's all about the staffing."
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The logo of Seaboard
Foods hog processing plant is seen in Guymon, Oklahoma, U.S., May
13, 2020. Picture taken May 13, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Hay/File Photo
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said last week the USDA was considering Quality Pork
Processors' proposal and that it could create the structure for waivers for five
other facilities. He did not give details but seemed to refer to the facilities
with waivers prior to the 2019 rule.
"I’m happy that they are tying the line speeds to worker safety, but this is all
backroom dealings and does not appear to take into consideration food safety
whatsoever," said Zach Corrigan, senior staff attorney for Food & Water Watch.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) did not
immediately respond to a request for comment.
The USDA did not respond to subsequent questions, nor did Quality Pork
Processors respond to requests for comment.
Workers at the company's plant would have more time off and be able to meet
production goals more quickly if line speeds and staffing levels increase again,
Morgan said. He noted that the workers, who are paid hourly, have been working
six days per week to meet production targets.
The plant's maximum slaughtering capacity dropped by about 7% to 17,700 pigs per
week after the court decision took effect, said Steve Meyer, economist for
consultancy Partners for Production Agriculture.
Nationally, the pork industry has lost 2.5% of its slaughtering capacity, the
National Pork Producers Council said.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Dan Grebler)
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