The five companies that control more than half the $32
billion poultry-processing industry are already responsible for the miserable lives and slaughter
of billions of chickens and are among
the largest polluters of U.S. waterways.
billion poultry-processing industry are already responsible for the miserable lives and slaughter
of billions of chickens and are among
the largest polluters of U.S. waterways.
Now they have a lot more people upset with them.
Tyson, Pilgrim’s Pride, Perdue Farms, Koch Foods, and
Sanderson Farms, several of which have been the subjects of recent Mercy For Animals
undercover
investigations, have each been named in a series of new class action lawsuits
brought by former farmers, customers, and investors. The suits allege that the
mega-processors violated federal antitrust laws for years by conspiring to cut labor
costs and fix prices, lining their pockets at the expense of consumers,
workers, and animals alike.
Sanderson Farms, several of which have been the subjects of recent Mercy For Animals
undercover
investigations, have each been named in a series of new class action lawsuits
brought by former farmers, customers, and investors. The suits allege that the
mega-processors violated federal antitrust laws for years by conspiring to cut labor
costs and fix prices, lining their pockets at the expense of consumers,
workers, and animals alike.
The latest proposed class action lawsuit, filed this month by
five former contract farmers, says that the companies worked together to depress
farmers’ pay in order to keep them “debt-laden
and subservient. The farmers report taking home between $12,000 and
$40,000 a year, despite working 12 to 16 hours a day, seven days a week for
companies like Tyson that take home more than $3.9 billion in profits a year.
five former contract farmers, says that the companies worked together to depress
farmers’ pay in order to keep them “debt-laden
and subservient. The farmers report taking home between $12,000 and
$40,000 a year, despite working 12 to 16 hours a day, seven days a week for
companies like Tyson that take home more than $3.9 billion in profits a year.
Another series of class actions, filed between last
September and October on behalf of the companies’ customers and investors, accuses
these same companies of secretly coordinating supply shortages in order to
artificially boost poultry prices to record levels. Tyson was subpoenaed
by the Securities and Exchange Commission last week, signaling that the
federal government may now be getting involved as well.
September and October on behalf of the companies’ customers and investors, accuses
these same companies of secretly coordinating supply shortages in order to
artificially boost poultry prices to record levels. Tyson was subpoenaed
by the Securities and Exchange Commission last week, signaling that the
federal government may now be getting involved as well.
Only a few months ago, the dairy industry paid $52
million to settle a similar class action involving a conspiracy to jack up
prices by prematurely slaughtering millions of cows. The egg industry is currently
embroiled in similar
litigation as well.
million to settle a similar class action involving a conspiracy to jack up
prices by prematurely slaughtering millions of cows. The egg industry is currently
embroiled in similar
litigation as well.
The tragic irony is that while these industries are illegally
conspiring to inflate prices, they’re also fighting much-needed reform on the
pretext of cutting costs. It’s a stark example of how animal agribusiness puts
profit above everything else. Instead of defrauding workers, consumers, and investors,
industry leaders should join the twenty-first century by adopting meaningful
animal welfare, environmental, and labor policies.
conspiring to inflate prices, they’re also fighting much-needed reform on the
pretext of cutting costs. It’s a stark example of how animal agribusiness puts
profit above everything else. Instead of defrauding workers, consumers, and investors,
industry leaders should join the twenty-first century by adopting meaningful
animal welfare, environmental, and labor policies.
You can send a strong message by taking cruelty off your
plate. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn how
to move toward a compassionate plant-based diet.
plate. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn how
to move toward a compassionate plant-based diet.
