Workers at Smithfield Packing Company’s Tar Heel, North Carolina plant reacted strongly against the company’s plans to increase the number of hogs it slaughters, saying production should not be increased until steps are taken to improve worker safety. About 130 people attended a community hearing last Thursday to voice opposition and raise concerns about the plant’s working conditions and impact on the environment. Smithfield seeks to increase production by 1 million hogs per year, bringing the annual total to 9.5 million.
“They will tell you anything to get this increase,” Smithfield worker Keith Ludlum warned. “We as stewards of good, clean, fresh water can not waste it, because we must have a future for our children.” Ludlum, who has united with his co-workers to make improvements at the plant, also testified before Congress last month in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration data, injuries including punctures, lacerations, fractures, amputations and chemical burns, have increased 200 percent at Tar Heel since 2003. That’s why Smithfield workers and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union which has stood with them oppose the increase.
A representative of the nonprofit organization Research Associates of America who testified at the hearing agreed with the UFCW and told regulators that the Division of Water and Quality should require the company to implement measures to protect workers, including safety training programs, guaranteed access to medical care and third-party investigations of injuries.
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Catchy headline and disturbing story. Thanks very much for the Smithfield update and this blog.
Just so you know, I've had CtW's website as my home page for more than a year, and I only just noticed that you've got a blog. Is there any way to make it more prominent on the home page? I wonder if other people are also missing it.
Posted by Thirties Throwback on March 21, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Posted on March 21, 2007 at 11:23 AM