{"id":32194,"date":"2019-10-07T19:04:26","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T19:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?p=32194"},"modified":"2020-08-24T19:10:23","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T19:10:23","slug":"porklinespeed","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/porklinespeed\/","title":{"rendered":"UFCW Files Lawsuit to Stop USDA\u2019s Dangerous Pork Line Speed Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"

America\u2019s Largest Private Sector Union, Representing 30,000 Pork Workers, Challenges USDA Policy Endangering Safety of Food and Workers<\/em><\/p>\n

MINNEAPOLIS, MN<\/strong> \u2013 Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union<\/a>, together with Public Citizen and UFCW Locals 663, 440 and 2<\/strong> filed a federal lawsuit<\/a> in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota seeking to stop the United States Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) new swine slaughter modernization rule which\u00a0 eliminates the line speed limits in pork slaughter plants and turns inspection of our food over to the companies that produce it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThousands of our members work hard every day in America\u2019s pork plants to help families across the country put food on the table. Increasing pork plant line speeds is not only a reckless giveaway to giant corporations, it will put thousands of workers in harm\u2019s way,\u201d said<\/strong> UFCW International President Marc Perrone<\/strong>. \u201cThis new rule would also dramatically weaken critical protections that Americans depend on to be able to select safe, healthy food to feed their families every day. The safety of America\u2019s food and workers is not for sale and this lawsuit seeks to ensure this dangerous rule is set aside and these companies are held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShockingly, USDA admitted in its rule that it simply ignored the mounds of evidence that showed its actions will harm workers, while bending over backwards to help businesses. That violates basic principles of administrative law,\u201d said<\/strong> Adam Pulver, an attorney with Public Citizen<\/strong>, which represents UFCW and the three locals in the case.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit alleges that the new rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act because it is not backed by reasoned decision-making.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe urged the USDA to consider how unsafe this rule would make our workplaces, but they refused,\u201d said<\/strong> UFCW Local 663 President Matt Utecht in Minnesota<\/strong>. \u201cWe had no choice but to go to court to stop a rule that will endanger the health and livelihoods of thousands of UFCW members.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a lot of pride in the products our members produce,\u201d said<\/strong> UFCW Local 440 President Leo Kanne in Iowa<\/strong>. \u201cThis rule will erode the quality and safety of the food we make and feed to our own families.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe USDA claims that this rule will make our food safer,\u201d said<\/strong> UFCW Local 2 President Martin Rosas in Kansas<\/strong>. \u201cBut our members, who have worked in the industry for years, know firsthand it makes both the food they make and the plants they work in less safe. Let\u2019s listen to the first-hand experts who work in these plants every day, instead of big corporations just looking to make even more money.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

BACKGROUND<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the USDA published a new rule for pork meat inspections which removes limits on line speeds in swine slaughter plants and turns over major meat inspection tasks from federal inspectors to meat companies.<\/p>\n