Source: Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 5/4/18


Over 6,500 pork plant employees who are members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union submitted comments to USDA objecting to a proposed rule that would increase the line speeds where they work.

Marc Perrone, international president of the UFCW, urged USDA to rewrite the rule.

“Faster line speeds in pork plants will lead to more workplace injuries and less safe food. The hard-working professionals employed in America’s pork plants are united in opposition to this proposed rule because they know better than anyone the harmful effects of increasing production speeds,” Perrone said in a statement.

Concerns about the safety of pork line workers prompted 63 members of Congress this month to ask USDA officials to withdraw the Swine Slaughter Inspection Modernization Rule.

USDA’s proposed New Swine Inspection System (NSIS) would put more USDA inspectors offline to perform tasks the agency said are more critical to ensuring food safety. 

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