May 16, 2016

 

 

The US poultry industry has reacted to an Oxfam America report alleging that the country's poultry workers were routinely denied bathroom breaks, saying such instances were very rare.

 

In a joint statement released last week, the National Chicken Council and the US Poultry & Egg Association dismissed the cause-oriented group's report entitled "No Relief" as based on "a handful of anonymous claims".

 

"We believe such instances are extremely rare and that US poultry companies work hard to prevent them", the statement said.

 

It said the industry was troubled by the claims that poultry workers resorted to wearing diapers to work and limiting intake of fluids due to denial of bathroom breaks.

 

"The health, safety and respect of our employees is very important, and we value their contributions in helping to produce our food.

 

"Although individual practices vary by company, restroom breaks are planned for any production line. Most facilities also employ extra people to cover for production workers who request a bathroom break," the National Chicken Council and the US Poultry & Egg Association said.

 

Tyson response

 

The report specifically called on Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's, Perdue and Sanderson Farms, which together control nearly 60% of the poultry market, to implement immediate changes that would improve conditions for workers nationwide.

 

Among the top four poultry companies, only Tyson Foods, the nation's largest poultry producer, has a publicly stated policy on bathroom breaks. "However, based on interviews with Tyson workers in half a dozen states, and on survey responses from scores of workers, it appears that Tyson's stated policy is not being followed at the plant level, with workers routinely denied adequate breaks" Oxfam America said.

 

In response to the report, Tyson said it did not tolerate the refusal of requests to use the restroom as "we have extra people who can fill in for them".

 

Tyson, which previously met with officials of Oxfam America and the Northwest Arkansas Workers' Justice Center to discuss their concerns, also said that it now uses an independent audit firm to assess working conditions in its plants. The auditors, it added, interview workers such issues as worker treatment, compensation and safety.

 

"This is an important step in closing the often large gap between stated headquarter policies and the realities of day-to-day life for workers on the production line", Oxfam America said.

 

Tyson said its workers could also talk to someone in human resources and plant management or one of its chaplains, as well anonymously contact either the Tyson Help Line (1-888-301-7304) or Tyson Web Line, which are both available 24 hours a day in multiple languages.-Rick Alberto