Problems in the American Meat Packing Industry Student: Suzanne Loen Mentor: Daniel Cronn-Mills Department: Speech Communication
Abstract The Meat Packing Industry is the lowest paying industrial job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 1999, it is also the most dangerous job in America, with more than 40,000 workers injured on the job every year.  The industry is doing little to solve this problem and is continuing to profit from the illegal action.  The problems in the meat packing industry affect us all; it is the meat we buy in the supermarket, the meat we eat at fast food restaurants, and the food that is served in our university cafeterias.  This research examines the efforts, or lack or efforts, of the industry to address these problems.  How these issues affect consumers is discussed.
One employee Killed, Eight Injured by Ammonia Spill. One employee Killed when Arm Caught in Meat Grinder. One employee Killed when Head Crushed by Conveyor. One employee Killed when Head Crushed in Hide Fleshing Machine. One employee Killed by Stun Gun. One employee Decapitated by Chain of Hide Puller Machine.   This is a list of injuries filed with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, all for the Meatpacking industry.  The meat packing industry is the lowest paying industrial jobs; and according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 1999 meatpacking is the most dangerous job in America, with more than 40,000 meatpackers injured on the job every year.  Moreover, the Meatpacking industry is well aware of the problem, yet continues to manipulate the employees.  This is a problem which concerns all of us because it is the meat we eat every day: the ham from the super market, the meat in your McDonald’s Hamburger, the chicken nuggets in the cafeteria. Today we investigate how 40,000 workers are injured every year and then determine why these injuries continue.  Finally, we will discover ways we can save lives in the meatpacking industry. The major problem with the industry is the philosophy; yes, meatpackers have a philosophy.  The problems are three-fold; the way the industry is run, the philosophy, and how together these problems create all the on the job injuries.  Now, the numbers are not pretty.  The industry is run by four major companies; IBP, ConAgra, Excel and National Beef.  These companies compete against each other, however they are run in identical manners.  The industry has a philosophy “The Chain Will Not Stop.”  However, this ideology is the very reason more than 40,000 workers are injured or killed every year.  “The chain” is the production line, with hanging hides of beef.  The faster the chain runs, the more profitable the business.  Now, technology is increasing the line speed of meatpacking plants.  Just 25 years ago, 175 cattle were slaughtered per hour, according to Mother Jones of July/August 2001; today, 400 cattle per hour -- more than twice as fast. Technology can increase speed on the line, but not the meatpackers.  In the digital age, the best tool of a meatpacker is still a sharp knife.  The risks meatpackers face everyday range from repetitive motion injuries, to lacerations, to permanent trauma, to death.  The line moves quickly and the workers are packed close together -- accidents will happen.  It will start with cutting yourself or a neighbor.  When people leave the line to visit the nurse, the chain does not stop.  Injuries begin to happen further down the line resulting in accidents with power tools, saws, conveyor belts.  All the while the floor is slippery with cow blood and carcasses are falling from their hooks.  Rita Betrane, a former meatpacking plant nurse, told National Public Radio’s All Things Considered of July 13, 2001, she could always tell how fast the chain was moving, based on the number of people in her office. The problems are gruesome but even more appalling are the reasons why these pitiful conditions continue: first, the mass hiring of immigrant laborers and second, the regulations on the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, and finally, the management of insurance payments.  The high injury rate in meatpacking, according to the previously cited Mother Jones, results in the hiring an entirely new workforce every year.  Hiring immigrants seems to solve many problems.  According to the Houston Chronicle of December 23, 2001, the U.S. Meatpacking Industry is dependent on illegal immigrants to keep the plant going. The New York Times July 16, 2001 states immigrants are willing to perform the worst jobs in America.  Immigrants are hired for these jobs because of the lack of job prospects.  These men and women cannot or will not challenge the working conditions, file lawsuits, or attempt to organize unions thus, giving the industry even more power over their lives and healthcare.  During the Regan Administration the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was cut back and highly regulated.  According to Eric Schlosser’s 2001 book Fast Food Nation, OSHA officials are only allowed to enter a plant when the safety records show a safety rate above the national average.  However, the safety records are kept by Industry managers and corruption occurred.  Schlosser found a case where the safety rate was five times the national average, and had not been inspected in several years. Since the 1980s, loopholes have been found to cover up accidents.  The latest example is injury waivers.  The basic injury waiver from IBP reads: “I have been injured at work and want to apply for the payments offered by IBP to me under its Workplace Injury Settlement Program.  To qualify, I must accept the rules of the Program.  I have been given a copy of the Program summary.  I accept the Program.”  Signing the injury waiver means an injured meatpacker cannot sue for any wrongdoing and industry approved doctors will handle all medical care.  Seeing another doctor is grounds for losing all health benefits.  Not signing the injury waiver is grounds for immediate termination.  In some states, the injury waiver is one of the documents signed when a meatpacker joins the union.  In other states, industry managers will get a meatpacker to sign it in the emergency room.  Eric Schlosser introduces us to Terry Zimmerman, one of these managers.  Zimmerman forced Lonita Leal to sign a waiver with her left hand, because her right was seriously mangled.  Zimmerman had Duane Mullin sign with his teeth, after both hands were crushed in a hammer mill.  Meatpackers have a simple choice, sign the waiver and receive immediate medical care or get fired and sue and one day maybe get a settlement.  In The Jungle his 1905 expose on the meat packing industry, Upton Sinclair proclaimed, “Atrocities in Chicago must be stopped before Lucifer himself engulfs all workers.”  The same atrocities exist today and just like 1905, steps must be taken to insure worker safety.  Solutions exist at the governmental, institutional and personal. On the governmental level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration must be reformed.  If we can get safety officials into meatpacking plants we can find ways to stop the real problem.  Atlantic Monthly of January 2002 states that improving working conditions within the industry would not take months or even weeks.  Simply, slowing down the line speed would save lives and limbs. On an institutional level, banning injury waivers would insure fair medical treatment for meatpackers.  Some states are already passing laws to ban such waivers.  According to the Texas Observer of April 24, 2001, Texas State Senator Robert Duncan has done his part.  Duncan has passed Senate Bill 624, which prohibits injury waivers.  On a personal level, voice your concern.  The reaction to Sinclair’s The Jungle was phenomenal and the changes made to the government then were by people who could not stand the thought of people suffering.  Now, we need to the same thing.  When my speech is over I will give you a handout with the phone numbers, U.S. mail, email and website of all four of the major companies.  Please take action; it will take a couple of seconds out of your day to send a letter or an email.  It may mean your hamburger costs a couple cents more, but it is worth saving a life. Today, we analyzed the problems with the American meatpacking industry, saw why these problems exist, and finally looked at some solutions.  Meatpacking plants might pay their workers the lowest wages in the country, but this does not mean the safety standards must be the worst as well.  With progressive steps, workers such as Duane Mullin will not have to sign away their rights and livelihood. Gillam, C.  (2001 December 23).  “Tyson Charges ‘Tip of The Iceberg’; Industry experts say meat processors skirt immigration law, call for policy reform.”  Houston Chronicle. 2. Greenhouse, S.  (2001 July 16.)  “Hispanic Worker Die at Higher Rate.”  New York Times.  Occupational Safety and Health Administration.www.osha-slc.gov/sltc/meatpacking/Schlosser, E. (2001).  Fast Food Nation.  New York: Houghton Mifflin. Schlosser, E. (2001 July/August).  “The Chain Will Not Stop.”  Mother Jones. Schlosser, E.  (2002 January).  “How to Make the Country’s Most Dangerous Job Safer.”  Atlantic Monthly. Werheimer, L & Adams, N.  (2001 July 13.)  “Erica Schlosser discusses the Danger of the Meat Packing Industry.”  National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. “Adding Insult to Injury.”  (2001 April 24.)  The Texas Observer.Sinclair, U.  (1984).  The Jungle.  Catchogue, NY: Buccaneer Books.

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