Recently, the Charlotte Observer ran a six-part series on poultry processing. It's a meticulous, horrifying account of people with few other options who are forced by economic circumstances to work in jobs where they are subject to almost certain physical debilitation, the frequent risk of serious injury, and exploitative overseers who treat them as less than human. They work grueling hours and are forbidden to take breaks at their own discretion, even to use the bathroom. Visiting doctors is strongly discouraged. Nearly half of these people are illegally trafficked into the country.
"Some speak out, but most of these workers just wanted to remain in the shadows," said Franco Ordo�ez, one of the reporters. "It's just not worth it, considering how much they've already risked, to draw more attention to themselves -- even if they're hurt. They're like the perfect victims."
On the plus side, they earn several hundred dollars an hour.
Oh no, wait, they earn $7.89 � if the bosses don't cheat them, which they do. And time spent putting on safety equipment is off the clock.
I'm waiting patiently for Nicholas Kristof to call for banning chicken nuggets.
