The meat industry in the US is roundly criticized for its horrendous treatment of animals--but chickens, cows, turkeys, pigs, etc., are not the only beings who are abused. 

A new report by Oxfam reveals that workers in poultry factories are often forced to work unrelenting hours in miserable conditions.

The work environment for many is so oppressive that bathroom breaks are routinely denied and those who do go to the bathroom are ridiculed. This leads to many workers wearing diapers throughout their shifts and urinating and defecating on the line.  

Workers are actually urinating and defecating while handling chicken carcasses to avoid the wrath of supervisors. 

As the report described, "Workers struggled to cope with this denial of a basic human need. They urinate and defecate while standing on the line; they wear diapers to work; they restrict intake of liquids and fluids to dangerous degrees; they endure pain and discomfort while they worry about their health and job security."

Workers are also often prevented from taking full meal breaks and are criticized if they consume too much. 

Many line workers are immigrants who do not have full legal protection so are afraid to protest the conditions. If the government enacted comprehensive immigration reform, workers would be able to seek legal recourse. 

In an industry that prizes efficiency and profit over ethical standards--this cruel exploitation of workers seems consistent with other practices. Managers are told to hit certain production quotas and so they wring every bit of labor out of their employees even if it endangers workers' health.

Similarly, "farms" where poultry is raised impose the bleakest possible life on animals so that yield is maximized and costs are minimized. 

Far too often, profit is put above people, and tremendous, completely unnecessary, suffering ensues. This state of affairs is not unique to the US. All around the world, similar exploitation takes place. 

But there's also a counter-current led by consumers to end this abuse. 

In the US, more people are demanding products with ethical backgrounds and huge corporations are listening. For instance, McDonald’s is overhauling its food system to emphasize “sustainability” and Walmart has substantially increased its organic foods section.

And when advocates for ethical behavior come forth, they often incite change. 

Oxfam's report was immediately responded to by Purdue and Tyson, which together account for 60% of the US poultry market. 

Spokesmen for both companies said the report troubled them and that they would work to improve conditions. 

A more fool-proof solution, of course, would be stronger regulation for worker rights. 

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Defeat Poverty

Harsh pace of poultry factories means workers wear diapers

By Joe McCarthy