Our Workers' Rights Project is a multi-state public education and advocacy initiative targeting the severe violations of basic labor and human rights faced by meatpacking workers throughout the Midwest, a workforce comprised of mostly immigrants, and seeking to require that the meatpacking industry adhere to basic community standards.

The Midwest Coalition in conjunction with Nebraska Appleseed, the Human Rights Program at the University of Minnesota, the UFCW, and Worker’s Interfaith Network is working to investigate and make meatpacking a safer job. With an injury rate more than twice the national average, meatpacking is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.

Meatpacking workers work in some of the most hazardous conditions of any industry. Workers must deal with loud noises, hot and cold temperatures, slippery floors and most of them are wielding sharp knives or working with dangerous machinery. All of these things are compounded by a slaughter line that is moving at a rate of about 400 head of cattle an hour or about one every ten seconds. Common injuries include cuts, lacerations, and in some cases amputations or death. Additionally, the work is extremely physical. Workers must deal with meat that is very heavy and usually make the same cutting motion for hours on end. Workers often suffer repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel, tendonitis, and strains and sprains.

All of this is further compounded by the fact that many of the workers are immigrants. Communication is often a problem in meatpacking plants. Managers and supervisors often do not speak the language of their workers and therefore it is hard to communicate any problems that may exist.

In November 2006, Nebraska Appleseed released a report, "Dignity on the Line: An Evaluation of the Nebraska Meatpacking Workers Bill of Rights." The Nebraska Meatpacking Workers Bill of Rights is landmark state-level legislation that outlined eleven basic rights for workers that aimed to protect their health and safety. The Appleseed report looks at the effects the Bill of Rights has had on the meatpacking industry and its workers in Nebraska and offers recommendations for strengthening its impact.

In April of 2007, the State of Minnesota was the second state in the Nation to pass a Meatpacking Worker’s Bill of Rights. This bill was designed after the Nebraska bill and guarantees that employers will post the rights of employees in their plants. The Midwest Coalition teamed up with the UFCW and many other community and faith based organizations to lobby for the bill. After a hard fight through the House and Senate the bill was passed into statute.

The Midwest Coalition is working hard to make sure these Bill of Rights are functioning at the highest possible level for meatpacking workers. Nebraska Appleseed completed over 300 worker surveys during the summer of 2007. These surveys documented working conditions, health and safety concerns, and allowed workers to voice their concerns and thoughts about the industry. In conjunction with the Nebraska surveys, the Human Rights Program at the University of Minnesota has conducted over 50 similar surveys at meatpacking plants in Minnesota. Look for reports and articles detailing the findings of these surveys in Nebraska and Minnesota by the fall of 2009!

For more information, see this series of background info articles about meatpacking or visit our Worker's Rights Resources page