Factbox: U.S. pork plants eligible to speed up slaughtering

Seaboard

10/11/2021 21:55

CHICAGO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Nine U.S. pork plants can apply
to increase processing line speeds under a U.S. Department of
Agriculture pilot program announced on Wednesday. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2S12IX
    A federal court in March ordered the USDA to halt a 2019
policy that allowed certain plants to operate without speed
limits, following a lawsuit over worker safety from the United
Food and Commercial Workers Union.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2LT3X5
    Workers at one plant that formerly operated without limits -
Seaboard Foods' facility in Guymon, Oklahoma - told Reuters that
faster line speeds increased injuries. The plant is eligible for
the new pilot program, the USDA said.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2KO3KU
    During the new trial program, plants would implement worker
safety measures included in an agreement with labor unions or
worker safety committees, according to USDA.


    Here are the nine eligible plants, according to the USDA:
    * Seaboard Foods in Guymon, Oklahoma
    * JBS-Swift in Beardstown, Illinois
    * Quality Pork Processors in Austin, Minnesota
    * WholeStone Farms Cooperative in Fremont, Nebraska
    * Clemens Food Group in Hatfield, Pennsylvania
    * Clemens Food Group in Coldwater, Michigan
    * JBS in Ottumwa, Iowa
    * Tyson Fresh Meats in Madison, Nebraska
    * Smithfield Packaged Meats in Los Angeles, California


 (Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by David Gregorio)
 ((Thomas.Polansek@thomsonreuters.com; https://twitter.com/tpolansek))