Minnesota Judge to Decide Whether to Slow Swine Slaughter Speeds

A federal judge in Minnesota is set to decide on whether to throw out a U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that sped up swine slaughter lines for some companies, or send it back to the agency for revision.

U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen in Minneapolis heard summary judgment and remand arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit brought by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union challenging the USDA’s move to increase line speeds at pork slaughterhouses.

“These workers will face an increased risk of injury,” said Adam Pulver, an attorney at Public Citizen Litigation Group, who represents UFCW in ...