{"id":64069,"date":"2026-02-18T10:15:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=64069"},"modified":"2026-02-18T10:15:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T15:15:57","slug":"ufcw-blasts-usdas-proposed-line-speed-rule","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/ufcw-blasts-usdas-proposed-line-speed-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"UFCW Blasts USDA\u2019s Proposed Line Speed Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 <\/strong>Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)<\/a><\/u><\/strong>, which represents hundreds of thousands of meatpacking and food processing workers, released a statement condemning the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) proposed rule<\/a> that would increase line speeds in meatpacking plants, presenting a great harm to workers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Mark Lauritsen, Director of the Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing Division and International Vice President at UFCW International<\/strong>, said:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cUFCW members work tirelessly to feed America in meatpacking plants every single day. Their work is difficult and often dangerous, but it is essential to helping families put food on the table. The Trump administration\u2019s proposed rule endangers hard-working union and non-union workers alike, all in service to the bottom line of big meatpackers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThe USDA studies released just last year confirmed that increasing line speeds increases the risk of harm to workers in poultry and pork plants. This proposed rule ignores those studies and seemingly any consideration for worker safety. Workers in non-union plants, who don\u2019t have walking stewards, safety committees or any contract protections, are especially vulnerable. Removing line speed limits and not having proper staffing opens the door to slower production due to injuries, which will do nothing to lower prices and could instead have the opposite effect.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cConsumers aren\u2019t safe either. Coupled with the administration\u2019s attacks on food inspectors<\/a>, increasing line speeds put our nation\u2019s food safety in jeopardy. The safety of our food depends on the safety of the workers who process it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cUncapping line speeds also raises the possibility of plant closures, which would throw hundreds of people out of work with each closure. Rural communities, where meatpacking plants are often local economic engines, would be especially impacted. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cToday\u2019s move risks taking us back to the days of Upton Sinclair\u2019s The Jungle<\/em>, where terrible working conditions in meatpacking plants left workers sick and injured at alarming rates. Meatpacking workers have fought for decades to bring our food supply chain to where it is today, and we will  fight to ensure their safety on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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

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