Countless reports have highlighted the dangerous
and unsanitary conditions faced by workers at factory farms and
slaughterhouses.
and unsanitary conditions faced by workers at factory farms and
slaughterhouses.
Last February, Buzzfeed News revealed that on
average, one Tyson employee a month is injured by equipment and loses a finger or limb.
average, one Tyson employee a month is injured by equipment and loses a finger or limb.
Just a few months later, a report from Oxfam found
that line workers at Tyson Foods, Perdue Farms, Pilgrim’s Pride, and Sanderson
Farms were denied breaks. In fact, they went so long without breaks that some
employees were forced to wear diapers.
that line workers at Tyson Foods, Perdue Farms, Pilgrim’s Pride, and Sanderson
Farms were denied breaks. In fact, they went so long without breaks that some
employees were forced to wear diapers.
These workers are subjected to hazards like
injuries, respiratory illness, and infection by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In fact, Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that 10 out of 22
workers who were tested carried potentially deadly bacteria.
injuries, respiratory illness, and infection by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In fact, Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that 10 out of 22
workers who were tested carried potentially deadly bacteria.
While the physical danger for these workers is
very real, so is the psychological trauma.
very real, so is the psychological trauma.
PTSD Journal
explains:
explains:
These
employees are hired to kill animals, such as pigs and cows that are largely
gentle creatures. Carrying out this action requires workers to disconnect from
what they are doing and from the creature standing before them. This emotional
dissonance can lead to consequences such as domestic violence, social
withdrawal, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, and PTSD.
To make matters worse, slaughterhouse violence
not only subjects countless workers to serious psychological trauma but also
makes its way into the communities they are part of.
not only subjects countless workers to serious psychological trauma but also
makes its way into the communities they are part of.
A 2009 study by criminologist Amy
Fitzgerald investigated the effects of slaughterhouse employment on crime rates:
Fitzgerald investigated the effects of slaughterhouse employment on crime rates:
The
findings indicate that slaughterhouse employment increases total arrest rates,
arrests for violent crimes, arrests for rape, and arrests for other sex
offenses in comparison with other industries.
Fitzgerald asserts that the slaughterhouse
specifically accounts for the spike in crime; she found that when the number of
slaughterhouse workers increased, the arrest rate increased. This was the case
even when controlling for variables like income, gender, and employment in
similar factory operations.
specifically accounts for the spike in crime; she found that when the number of
slaughterhouse workers increased, the arrest rate increased. This was the case
even when controlling for variables like income, gender, and employment in
similar factory operations.
Slaughterhouse workers have little power over
how animals are treated. Extreme confinement, mutilations without painkillers,
and ruthless slaughter are no fault of low-level workers.
how animals are treated. Extreme confinement, mutilations without painkillers,
and ruthless slaughter are no fault of low-level workers.
While it’s certainly true that animals pay the
ultimate price with their lives, farmworkers are oppressed by the same system
that values profit over everything else. Many workers have no voice for
speaking out against the atrocities they are forced to commit every day.
ultimate price with their lives, farmworkers are oppressed by the same system
that values profit over everything else. Many workers have no voice for
speaking out against the atrocities they are forced to commit every day.
You can show your support of farmworkers and
farmed animals by ditching the industry that places them behind profit. Click here for more information on making the switch, including simple
meal ideas.
farmed animals by ditching the industry that places them behind profit. Click here for more information on making the switch, including simple
meal ideas.
