The USDA would be barred from allowing faster line speeds at hog and poultry slaughter plants during the pandemic under companion bills filed in the House and Senate on Thursday. Sponsors said the legislation would protect worker safety.
A recent study by the National Employment Law Project said that more meat and poultry workers died of Covid-19 during 2020 than from all other work-related deaths in the previous 15 years. The House and Senate bill would require the USDA to withdraw any waivers for higher line speeds now in effect and would block any new waivers or regulations that would speed up slaughter lines.
Sponsors include Rep. Rosa DeLauro, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Sen. Cory Booker. All are Democrats.
Testimony at an Appropriations subcommittee hearing last week “revealed corporate meatpackers pursued faster line speeds to protect their bottom lines at the expense of workers,” said DeLauro.
In January, the USDA withdrew a proposed rule that would allow poultry processors to increase line speeds by up to 25 percent.
The United Food and Commercial Workers union supports the legislation. “Simply put, slower line speeds help to keep workers safe from injuries and ensure safe social distancing to stop the spread of Covid-19,” said UFCW president Marc Perrone.
As of midday Thursday, at least 57,680 meatpacking workers had tested positive for Covid-19 and at least 284 had died of the virus, according to data compiled by FERN.