Our union has been fighting for frontline workers’ rights during the COVID pandemic. Our leaders have spoken in the national press and on TV, fighting for workers to have the protection they need in this difficult time.
Meat and poultry companies keep pushing line speeds in processing plants faster and faster, with no consideration for workers. UFCW has long been a voice for workers, and fight to slow down the line, and make sure workers are safe and can stay healthy.
UFCW fighting for Frontline workers during COVID.
America’s Largest Meatpacking Union Condemns Trump Admin. For Failure to Hold Smithfield Accountable for Outbreak of COVID-19 Worker Deaths and Infections
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union, which represents 1.3 million workers in meatpacking plants and other essential businesses, condemned the new U.S. Department of Labor fine on Smithfield Foods as completely insufficient in the wake of the company’s failure to protect meatpacking workers at its Sioux Falls, South Dakota which reported nearly 1,300 COVID-19 infections and at least four deaths among its employees. As the union for Smithfield workers at this plant, UFCW called today’s fine by the Trump Administration insulting and a slap on the wrist that will do nothing to help those already infected or prevent future worker deaths.
America’s Meatpacking Union, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Marcia Fudge Demand USDA Stop Endangering Poultry Workers on Frontlines of COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), America’s meatpacking union with 1.3 million workers, along with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (New Jersey) and Representative Marcia Fudge (Ohio), announced their opposition to a proposed United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulation increasing line speeds in poultry plants across America.
Poultry Workers, Already at Risk From COVID-19, Sue USDA Over Dangerous Line Speeds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and five of its local unions represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group filed a federal lawsuit to end the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) waivers allowing poultry plants to increase production line speeds and further endanger workers already facing elevated risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. UFCW represents more than 250,000 workers across the meatpacking and food processing industries.
NEW REPORT: Meatpacking Wrongful Death Lawsuit Highlights Shocking Safety Failures Amid COVID-19 Surge
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union, which represents over 250,000 workers in meatpacking and food processing plants, condemned the COVID-19 safety failures alleged in a wrongful death lawsuit tied to at least five meatpacking worker deaths and more than 1,000 meatpacking worker infections at a Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo, Iowa. The infections impacted over a third of the plant’s workforce, which is represented by UFCW. The lawsuit alleges that employees were ordered to report to work, even if sick, while supervisors wagered money on the number of workers who would be infected by the virus.
America’s Meatpacking Union Demands Trump Admin. Stop Policy Endangering Poultry Workers on Frontlines of COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), America’s food and retail union with 1.3 million workers, announced its opposition to the latest attempt by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase line speeds in poultry plants across America. This latest threat to workers from the Trump Administration comes as COVID-19 cases skyrocket across the country and further endanger meatpacking workers on the frontlines.
USDA’s Renewed Effort to Raise Line Speed Limits is a Reckless Corporate Giveaway As Union Reports 128 Meatpacking Worker Deaths and 19,800 Meatpacking Workers Infected or Exposed to COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), America’s food and retail union with 1.3 million workers, announced its opposition to the latest attempt by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase line speeds in poultry plants across America. This latest threat to workers from the Trump Administration comes as COVID-19 cases skyrocket across the country and further endanger meatpacking workers on the frontlines.
Union for 250,000 Workers in Meatpacking and Food Processing Calls for Slower Line Speeds, Safer Workplaces for Essential Workers Endangered by COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), which represents more than 250,000 workers in food processing and meatpacking plants, announced its support for the Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act, introduced by U.S. Representatives Marcia Fudge (OH-11), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), which would impose safe line speed limits at meatpacking plants to ensure worker safety and social distancing. This comes at a critical moment for the U.S. food supply chain as COVID-19 continues to impact meatpacking plants and workers across the country.
America’s Largest Meatpacking Union, Public Citizen Demand End to USDA Waivers Allowing Dangerous Poultry Line Speeds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and five of its local unions represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group filed a federal lawsuit to end the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) waivers allowing poultry plants to increase production line speeds and further endanger workers already facing elevated risks during the COVID-19 pandemic. UFCW represents more than 250,000 workers across the meatpacking and food processing industries.
The plaintiffs argue that the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) waiver program should be set aside and 10 currently active waivers should be voided. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that the USDA failed to follow required procedures and ignored the agency’s own rules and policies when it adopted the waiver program. Click here to read the text of today’s lawsuit.
UFCW calls on the USDA to take five immediate steps to protect meatpacking workers from the Coronavirus:
- Prioritize Essential Workers for Testing: In order to ensure the health and safety of workers and protect the food supply, essential workers, such as those in meatpacking and food processing, must be prioritized for testing
- Immediate Access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Though social and physical distancing are essential to preventing the spread of COVID-19, workers still need access to PPE, such as masks and gloves. The reality is that many of our meatpacking members lack the critical personal protection equipment necessary to do their job and reduce the risk of exposure. It is essential that the USDA, in conjunction with the White House Task force, prioritize all meatpacking and food workers for PPE to ensure the health and safety of these workers and to protect our food supply.
- Immediate Halt On Line Speed Waivers: In the first two weeks of this month, the USDA’s Food and Safety Inspection Service approved 11 regulatory waivers for poultry plants to increase their maximum line speed. Rather than protect our food supply and workers, these waivers guarantee that workers are more crowded along a meatpacking line and more workers are put at risk of either catching or spreading the virus. It is Critical that the USDA immediately cease granting any new waivers and suspend all existing waivers that allow plants to operate at faster speeds.
- Mandate Social Distancing Where Possible: In order to responsibly protect workers and prevent spread of the disease, companies must enforce and practice six-foot social and physical distancing to the greatest extent possible, even if this means production slows down. Where distancing is not possible, companies should use plexiglass barriers to separate and protect workers, and/or ensure that all workers are provided with masks that can safely be used under these extreme conditions.
- Isolate Workers Who Show Symptoms or Test Positive for COVID-19: In light of the largest outbreak to date at Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it is critical to identify and isolate workers who have tested positive or who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. These workers should be allowed to quarantine at home, with pay, per the recommendations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
America’s Largest Meatpacking Union Condemns New OSHA Pact, Calling it Shameless Corporate Giveaway Exploiting Pandemic to Give Industry Even More Power to Police Itself on Worker Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union, which represents 1.3 million workers in meatpacking plants across North America, condemned a new agreement just announced by the U.S. Department of Labor and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI), the lobbying arm of the meat and poultry industry. UFCW called the pact a shameless corporate giveaway giving the industry even more power to police itself and ignore safety measures essential to protecting meatpacking workers who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the largest North American meatpacking union, UFCW has been a leading voice in the push to strengthen protections for meatpacking workers throughout the industry who have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic since day one.
UFCW confirmed today that there have already been at least 113 meatpacking worker deaths and over 17,000 meatpacking workers infected or exposed to COVID-19. These numbers only include workers represented by UFCW, and with many meatpacking companies refusing to release internal numbers, it is likely that meatpacking worker deaths and infections are much higher.