U.S. considers faster hog slaughtering based on plant staffing -union

Seaboard

11/10/2021 21:03

By Tom Polansek
    CHICAGO, Oct 11 (Reuters) - The Biden administration is
considering a proposal that could allow some pork plants to
slaughter pigs more quickly if they boost staffing, a union
official said, after a U.S. court struck down a Trump-era rule
that removed line speed limits.
    The proposal put forward by Quality Pork Processors,
operator of a large Minnesota slaughterhouse, and union
officials could benefit companies like WH Group Ltd's  0288.HK 
Smithfield Foods  SFII.UL  and JBS USA  JBS.UL , the North
American unit of Brazilian meatpacker JBS SA  JBSS3.SA . 
    Faster slaughtering would help them increase pork production
at a time of high demand and soaring bacon prices.
    Seven pork plants were initially able to operate without
limits on line speeds after a 2019 U.S. Department of
Agriculture rule change that did not need congressional
approval. Six of the plants had previously received waivers to
run at a faster pace. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2KO3KU
    A federal judge in March invalidated the policy and forced
the plants to slow down following a United Food and Commercial
Workers (UFCW) Union lawsuit against the USDA over concerns
about worker safety. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2LT3X5
    The second-biggest U.S. pig producer, Seaboard Foods
 SEB.A , which did not previously have a waiver, sped up an
Oklahoma pork plant last year under the 2019 rule. Workers told
Reuters the faster line speeds increased injuries, and there
were not enough employees to run faster production lines safely.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL8N2KO3KU
    Under the new proposal, Quality Pork Processors would be
able to speed up again if the USDA and unions agree staffing
levels are high enough, said Richard Morgan, president of the
UFCW local that represents the plant's workers. He said staffing
levels could be monitored daily.
    "The number of staffing would dictate what the line speed
can be that day," he said. "It's all about the staffing."
    USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said last week the USDA was
considering Quality Pork Processors' proposal and that it could
create the structure for waivers for five other facilities. He
did not give details but seemed to refer to the facilities with
waivers prior to the 2019 rule. 
    "I’m happy that they are tying the line speeds to worker
safety, but this is all backroom dealings and does not appear to
take into consideration food safety whatsoever," said Zach
Corrigan, senior staff attorney for Food & Water Watch.
    The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
    The USDA did not respond to subsequent questions
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2R32PK, nor did Quality Pork Processors respond to
requests for comment.
    Workers at the company's plant would have more time off and
be able to meet production goals more quickly if line speeds and
staffing levels increase again, Morgan said. He noted that the
workers, who are paid hourly, have been working six days per
week to meet production targets. 
    The plant's maximum slaughtering capacity dropped by about
7% to 17,700 pigs per week after the court decision took effect,
said Steve Meyer, economist for consultancy Partners for
Production Agriculture. 
    Nationally, the pork industry has lost 2.5% of its
slaughtering capacity, the National Pork Producers Council said.

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