Liberation Audio
Pandemic reveals worker exploitation in Texas meatpacking industry
Jun 13, 2020
Worker exploitation and lack of safety measures in the Texas meatpacking industry during the pandemic are highlighted in this episode. It discusses a COVID-19 outbreak at Quality Sausage Co. resulting in deaths and infections, the high infection rates among immigrant workers, and the negligence of companies in testing and informing employees. The history of worker exploitation in the Amarillo meatpacking industry and the challenges faced by workers during the pandemic, including limited healthcare resources, are also discussed.
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Quick takeaways
- Worker exploitation and unsafe conditions in meat processing plants in Texas are widespread and put workers' lives at risk.
- Rural Texas counties with meatpacking plants have alarmingly high COVID-19 infection rates due to lack of testing, late safety precautions, and threat of termination for taking time off.
Deep dives
Exploitation and unsafe conditions in the Texas meatpacking industry
The podcast episode highlights the rampant worker exploitation and unsafe conditions faced by meat processing plant workers in Texas. The quality sausage company in Dallas serves as an example, where mismanagement of a COVID-19 outbreak resulted in three deaths and 63 infections. Similar unsafe conditions exist in other food industry facilities, with examples from Breakbush Brothers Inc., where 40 workers were infected, and a poultry plant in Irving, where immigrant workers largely face these conditions. The companies prioritize productivity over worker safety and fail to adhere to CDC guidelines, putting workers' lives at risk.
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