INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this report is to discuss my opinion on the question “Do I agree with the recommendations of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) in regards to work safety particularly when it comes to immigrant workers?” I will provide information on past and current safety related issues as they apply to the meat packing industry and immigrant workers. I will discuss the recommendations of the HRW. I will provide my opinion and consider some of the utilitarian and deontological considerations, and conclude this report with a brief summary of the entire analysis, highlighting some of the most significant parts that the report contains
HISTORY
“In 1906, Upton Sinclair's novel "The Jungle" uncovered harrowing conditions inside America's meat packing plants and initiated a period of transformation in the nation's meat industry. The Pure Food and Drug Act and the Federal Meat Inspection Act were both passed later that year, and labor organizations slowly began to improve the conditions under which the country's meat packers toiled. But some critics say America's meat business has been in decline for decades and that the poor conditions found in slaughterhouses and packing facilities today are often little better than those described by Sinclair a century ago.” (PBS, 2006) From the 1930’s to the 1980’s trade unions such as the United Packinghouse Workers of America organized workers and improved working conditions and pay. Meat packing employees earned an average of almost $20 and hour in the 60’s and 70’s. In the 80’s and 90’s new competition came on line and tried to undercut other union based companies. Iowa Beef Processors (IBP) sought to work on slim profit margins, increase worker speed and pro ...