Poultry worker death casts spotlight on safety

The death of poultry worker after a long shift highlights the need for better conditions in the food processing industry says the United Food and Commercial Workers, (UFCW1518) the union representing BC’s poultry processing workers.
According to CBC, the estate of 42-year-old Bao Min Cheng's wife Mei Juan Lin and their four young children filed a civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court on March 20 in which Hallmark Poultry Processors Ltd. is named as the defendant.
Cheng died from heart failure on Mar. 22, 2013 around 10 p.m. after working a 13-hour shift at Hallmark's chicken slaughterhouse factory at 1756 Pandora St. in Vancouver, according to the suit.
Cheng came to Canada from China over 10 years ago. He did not speak English and had little education.
According to UFCW 1518, With many non-union poultry processing operations paying near minimum wage, many workers feel pressured to accept extra hours to meet ends meet.
“Workers without a union are quite vulnerable because they do not have the same safeguards in place as union operations in the food processing industry.” Jason Mann, spokesperson for the union.
For more information go to www.ufcw1518.com.

Quick Facts

• The UFCW Local 1518 represents workers at large scale poultry operations such as Lillydale and Sunrise 
• Collective agreements covering poultry processing workers have specific provisions addressing overtime, rest periods and health and safety committees. 
• Wage rates at unionized firms are higher than non-union operations 
• Example of safety protections found in union collective agreements http://www.ufcw1518.com/sites/all/files/Original%20Sunrise.pdf

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