By Scout Nelson
Hundreds of meatpacking workers protested outside the JBS Foods plant in Worthington, Minnesota, calling for safer working conditions. Organized by the UFCW 663 union, the demonstration marked the largest in over a decade.
“This march that we had today, this was the first march outside of the JBS plant in over a decade,” said Ruth Schultz, meatpacking director of the Local UFCW 663. “It was the most workers who have come together to take action about workplace issues with their union in a decade.”
The union is pushing for safer working environments, particularly regarding line speed, additional training, and improved wages. More than 1,000 hogs are processed per hour, raising concerns over repetitive stress injuries and food safety.
The USDA, under the Trump administration, recently extended waivers allowing increased line speeds and may make them permanent. It also ended requirements for plants to submit safety data, although injury reporting to OSHA is still mandatory.
Workers say existing speeds already cause strain-related injuries. One worker described common wrist and hand pain, saying through a translator, “With these repetitive motion injuries, I felt the pain in my hand. But I felt it travel up my arm, and I felt it all the way into my back.”
JBS stated that it is open to negotiating but claims the union has not responded with specific safety concerns. Industry representatives argue that faster speeds have not been directly linked to injury rates.
However, experts like anthropologist Don Stull say the industry has one of the highest injury rates in U.S. manufacturing, with repetitive motion and acute injuries being common. Slower speeds and safer conditions remain top priorities for workers and advocates.
Photo Credit:istock-pixeldigits
Categories: Minnesota, General, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety