The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said it will extend for up to 90 days a trial program that allows six U.S. pork plants to operate faster processing-line speeds while collecting data on how the speeds affect meatpacking workers. The decision is a win for major meat companies like Tyson Foods and JBS SA and their farmers at a time when both are losing money. The plants, including one in Nebraska owned by Tyson and another in Illinois run by JBS' Swift Pork Co., were allowed to accelerate line speeds last year under a trial that required them to also implement worker safety measures under agreements with labor unions or worker safety committees.
Macy's workers in western Washington are preparing to strike over safety issues they said are threatening them at work, low wages, and other unfair labor.