Description/Abstract
Meatpacking plants are hazardous workplaces with high injury rates and poor working conditions, negatively impacting the health of the industry’s predominately immigrant and refugee workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated ongoing concerns in the industry, including the problems associated with consolidation and concentration, worker safety, and poor public health outcomes. This brief summarizes findings from a study that used data from 39 interviews with local, state, and federal officials and bureaucrats, worker advocates, and workers to analyze meatpacking policymaking and oversight during COVID-19. The authors find that a lack of industry oversight and decreased regulation contribute to unsafe environments, and injustices in the workers’ compensation system limit injured workers’ access to care and compensation
Document Type
Policy Brief
Date
11-27-2024
Keywords
Meatpacking Industry, Immigrants, COVID-19
Language
English
Series
Policy Briefs Series
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Alyssa Kirk and Shannon Monnat for edits on a previous draft of this brief. Thank you to Professors Stephanie Malin, Tara Opsal, Joshua Sbicca, Annabel Ipsen, and Heidi Hausermann who provided invaluable feedback on the dissertation upon which this brief is based.
Disciplines
COVID-19 | Food Studies | Geography | Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Public Policy | Work, Economy and Organizations
Recommended Citation
Luxton, India, and Minkoff-Zern, Laura-Anne. (2024). The Meatpacking Industry Needs Stronger Worker Protections and Enhanced Oversight. Center for Policy Research. Policy Brief #16. Accessed at: doi.org/10.14305/rt.cpr.2024.4.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Included in
COVID-19 Commons, Food Studies Commons, Geography Commons, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons, Public Policy Commons, Work, Economy and Organizations Commons
