U.S. pork plants eligible to speed up slaughtering
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.
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.
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.
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)
