Poultry Workers’ Union Avoids Dismissal of Line Speed Lawsuit

The federal government’s assertion that a poultry plant workers’ union couldn’t challenge U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations increasing processing plant line speeds has been rejected by a federal district judge.

The USDA had defended the line speed increases approved during the Trump administration on the grounds there wasn’t a substantial increase in the risk of workers being injured.

But, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington rejected the government’s position in an Aug. 20 opinion, and denied a motion to dismiss the union challenge. The United Food and Commercial Workers, joined by five local unions, filed their lawsuit over ...