The history of the meatpacking industry closely traces the history of corporate power and consolidation in the US. In the same period, antitrust laws aimed the stranglehold of big business in all sectors broke up most powerful players of the meat cartel. Transition to a production line, where workers performed the same task repeatedly, meant unskilled workers could be hired at lower wages.
Consolidation began to rise again, such that today meatpacking is one of the most concentrated sectors of the economy; with consolidation, conditions at plants have worsened severely. Some beef and pork slaughter plants are still unionized, and, according to United Food and Commercial Workers , union meatpackers make 15 percent higher wages than non-union. The costs of working in slaughterhouses are not offset by the low pay; and worse, many workers sacrifice their bodies on the production line.
With line speeds twice as fast as forty years ago, the stress of repetitive cutting motions can lead to serious injury. A Southern Poverty Law Center report found that nearly 75 percent of poultry workers described having some type of significant work-related injury or illness. Injuries from the cutting equipment, from falls on slippery floors and from exposure to chemicals and pathogens are common.
Musculoskeletal disorders — injuries to the nerves, tendons and muscles — are especially prevalent. For example, the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome in poultry processing is seven times higher than the national average.
On a chicken processing line, a worker can repeat the same motion as many as 20, times in a day, which can lead to permanent damage in the hands, arms, shoulders or back. In some slaughterhouses, workers are not allowed regular bathroom breaks, which can lead to severe health consequences, as well. Many workers in slaughterhouses are immigrants and have been threatened with deportation or firing if they speak up about unsafe working conditions, are injured on the job, seek medical treatment outside the company or complain about work-related health issues.
In , USDA issued recalls of contaminated meat products, covering In , Wolverine Packing Company recalled approximately 1. That same year, Tyson Foods recalled 33, pounds of mechanically separated chicken parts, some of which had infected nine people in a correctional facility in Tennessee with Salmonella. Bacteria can enter the food supply if proper care is not taken in slaughter and processing.
Fecal matter from animal intestines or animal hides can spread to tables, tools or to the meat itself. In some cases, they may be involved in the slaughter of livestock prior to their preparation work. As you review the meat packer job description template provided here in advance of creating your own listing, keep in mind the skills that you want your candidates to possess.
The meat packer job description will show you how to best list this as a job qualification. Our commercial production facility will allow you to work with a manner of materials, including traditional meats such as beef, chicken and pork, as well as more exotic products, like venison and seasonal fish.
Your skills in preparing various cuts of meat will come in handy, as will your knowledge of food safety standards. With your help, we can ensure that local restaurants and residents have fresh and safe meat products on their plates. Use template. View All Job Descriptions Meat Packer Job Responsibilities If you struggle to find the right team for your meat packing plant, you may have fallen foul of a poorly written meat packer job description.
The job responsibilities of a meat packer will vary slightly from facility to facility. However, there are some common duties. Receiving the meat products into the room that stores the meat is one of the most important duties of the meat packer.
He or she must also be able to read and fill the orders of the various customers, usually grocery stores and markets. She must also be able to operate the machine that vacuum-suctions the meat. Accurately calculating the weight of the meat products using both a digital scale and a non-digital one are important duties, as well.
A meat packer must perform other duties related to the actual packing of the meat products, too. For example, she must be able to pack the meat into boxes that are properly labeled. She must also prepare meat orders for transportation and shipping.
In addition, there is usually a set schedule that must be met — shipping the meat according to the requirements of each customer.
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