New injury data could show danger rule poses to workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Marc Perrone, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), is requesting the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a letter to reopen the comment period and delay the implementation of the pork line speed rule, which would allow for unlimited increase in hog slaughter line speeds. The USDA withheld important injury data relating to the proposed rule until after the comment period had closed.
The letter can be found here.
“Thousands of pork workers all across America understand from firsthand experience that this is an extremely dangerous rule change and we believe the data will support this fact,” said Perrone. “Make no mistake, increasing line speeds is a needless weakening of our safety standards. It threatens the quality and health of our food supply and cruelly endangers the lives of workers who make it. This proposed rule must be stopped.”
UFCW members who are hog slaughter workers hand-delivered Perrone’s letter to Carmen Rottenberg, administrator of the FSIS, on September 26 after meeting with USDA officials to explain why the proposed rule is dangerous.
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The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries.
Our members help put food on our nation’s tables and serve customers in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more about the UFCW atwww.ufcw.org.