Chapter 8, "The Most Dangerous Job"

1 How does the injury rate in meat packing compare with the injury rate in other occupations? The injuries in meat packing are nearly 3 times higher than in most factories. Almost 1/3 of the workers in a meat packing industry will suffer an injury or illness beyond basic first aid. (That is insane! Imagine if 1/3 of the teachers in our school had an injury once a year!)

2 What kinds of injuries do workers in meat packing plants typically suffer? The injuries in the meat packing plants are typically lacerations (stabbings of themselves of their fellow workers.) The workers also suffer from back and shoulder problems. (Fun job!)

3 What is the impact on workers of speeding up the line in meatpacking plants? When the lines are sped up, the workers must rush to not fall behind. This means they are more likely to stab themselves, cut off a finger or one of a nearby worker. Some slaughter houses slaughter up to 400 cattle an hour. (... wow.)

4 Why don't more workers complain about safety conditions in the plants? Because most of the workers are not part of a union, (usually because they are illegal immigrants) they would easily be fired if they spoke out. The immigrants make much more money in the meat packing job than anything they could do in their own country. They fear of losing their job.


This chapter was huge shocker. I couldn't believe the story told at the end of the chapter. How some company could do that to somebody is just beyond my understanding. These meat packing industries treat their workers like animals and the OSHA should really go inside the factories and not just look at the injury list (which is a big lie.)

Chapter 7, "Cogs in the Great Machine"

1 What changes did IBP introduce to the meat packing industry? IBP (Iowa Beef Packing) introduced many changes to the meat packing industry. The meat packing industry at that time was a middle class job, well paid and was considered a decent job to have. It also took a lot of skill. IBP used assembly lines so that workers wouldn't have to be very skilled, thus cutting the wages by 50%. IBP also had its own meat grinder so it made even more money.

3 What were the links between IBP and organized crime? Butchers in New York boycotted and blocked IBP's boxed beef from sale. In order to solve this, the mob offered "help" for 5% commission on every 10 pounds of beef sold in New York. The mob bribed the butchers and IBP began shipping to New York. Later, the mob and IBP were convicted of bribery and had to pay a fine.

7 Where do meat packing companies go to recruit new employees? What is the “new industrial migrant?” The meat packing companies go to Mexico and Guatemala to recruit new employees. The migrants are payed a lot more than they are in their home country and usually eventually return home after they save up money. 1/4 of all workers in the meat packing industry are illegal immigrants. The companies also hire homeless from around the country.


This chapter wasn't much of a shocker. However, i did not know that the meat packing industry was ever a middle class job. It just seems impossible!