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Federal Court Enters Injunction Against Janitorial Service that Used Child Labor in Meatpacking Plants

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa issued an order granting a preliminary injunction prohibiting Fayette Janitorial Service, LLC from violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) “by employing oppressive child labor,” “refusing to provide information to the Department of Labor to aid in its investigation,” impeding the investigation, or retaliating against cooperating employees. The Labor Department alleged that Fayette violated the Fair Labor Standards Act while employing minor children under the age of 16 at a Seaboard Triumph Foods, LLC meatpacking plant in Sioux Falls, Iowa and minor children under the age of 14 at a Perdue Farms, LLC poultry processing plant in Accomac, Virginia.

OSHA Recommends Use of Physical Barriers to Protect Employees at Bear Country USA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sent correspondence to Bear Country USA, a South Dakota wildlife menagerie. The OSHA letter advised the company that it was observed breaching the general duty clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act by allowing its employees “to have unrestricted direct contact with adult black bears during the process of collecting black bear cubs” and exposing its employees to “mauling hazards associated with no physical barrier in place while having direct contact with an apex predator.” OSHA recommended the facility use a physical barrier to protect employees from direct contact with adult black bears when removing bear cubs.

Ontario Ministry Confirms Lanark Animal Welfare Society Compliance with PAWS Act

Following a recent investigation, the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General determined that animals at the Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) were treated in accordance with the standards of care under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act). LAWS board member Kathy Hoyland mentioned that LAWS also received a positive inspection from an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs inspector. Both inspections were successful, and LAWS intends to implement suggested improvements. Investigations by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development into several workplace complaints are still ongoing, focusing on harassment and internal responsibility system issues.

Firefighters Watch Dog Drown in Icy Water Due to Department Policy

Firefighters in Barrie, Ontario, watched as a couple’s ten-year-old golden retriever, Brody, fell through the ice on a river near the couple’s house. Dennis and Linda Weaver, both 71, called 911 when Brody fell through the ice. According to Linda, firefighters stationed at the shoreline explained that they were unable to intervene, citing the department's policy against conducting water or ice rescues for companion animals due to associated risks. A municipal bylaw reinforces this restriction, preventing firefighters from undertaking services beyond their training. South River Machar Fire Chief Risto Maki clarified the department's lack of training in swift water rescues and tethering to animals.

Minnesota AG Alleges Evergreen Acres Dairy Has Wrongfully Withheld Millions of Dollars of Earned Wages from Vulnerable Migrant Workers

Minnesota Attorney General (AG) Keith Ellison announced the filing of a lawsuit against Evergreen Acres Dairy, Evergreen Estates, Morgan Feedlots, and owners Keith Schaefer and Megan Hill. The complaint alleges that the defendants “have run their business on the backs of employees that they systematically and illegally exploit” in multiple ways, including by withholding “millions of dollars” of earned wages and overtime from employees “who work demanding and dangerous 12-hour shifts at least six days per week.” It further alleges that defendants force employees to live in conditions that lack heat and plumbing and “suffer from pervasive microbial growth, mildew, and/or insect infestations.” The AG’s office is seeking declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, restitution and/or disgorgement, liquidated damages, civil penalties, costs, and attorney’s fees.

New Report Links Antibiotic Overuse on Factory Farms to Almost 2,000 Human Deaths Annually

A report by World Animal Protection United Kingdom reveals that antibiotic-resistant E. coli and Salmonella from factory farms caused nearly 2,000 deaths in 2022, with projections exceeding 2,400 annually by 2050. The study, by the University of Bologna, indicates a £1.32 billion loss to the UK economy due to work absences from superbug-related illnesses. World Animal Protection is calling on the government to introduce regulations aligning with those in the European Union, which provide that antibiotics cannot be used to compensate for poor hygiene, inadequate animal husbandry or lack of care. The organization is also urging the UK to ban the building of new or expansion of existing intensive farms.

Poultry Processor Agrees to Pay Millions in Back Wages and Damages for Violating Child Labor Laws and Retaliating Against Employees Who Cooperated in Investigation

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the entry of a consent judgment in an enforcement action pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against The Exclusive Poultry, Inc., a California poultry processor that supplies major supermarkets and food distributors like Ralphs, ALDI, and SYSCO Corp., and against owner Tony Bran. The DOL found the defendants had violated child labor regulations by employing children as young as fourteen years old in dangerous jobs and for excessive hours and had retaliated against employees for cooperating in the investigation. Under the consent judgment, the defendants must pay $3.5 million in back wages and damages and $201,104 in civil penalties.

FSIS Extends Increased Line Speed Trials at Swine Slaughterhouses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a 90-day extension of time-limited trials allowing increased line speeds at six swine slaughter facilities. FSIS is extending the trials to enable continued data gathering for an FSIS-commissioned study about the impact of increased line speeds on worker safety.

DOL Announces Civil Penalties for Minnesota Meat Processor that Violated Federal Child Labor Laws

Monogram Meat Snacks LLC has paid $140,164 in civil penalties for violating federal child labor laws. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) found that the company illegally employed at least 11 children at its Chandler, Minnesota meatpacking and food processing facility. Nine of the children operated hazardous machinery there. The company must also take steps to ensure labor law compliance in the future, including hiring a third-party auditor, and it may not ship in interstate commerce foods that were produced at the facility within 30 days of a child labor law violation. Data from DOL show that there has been an upward trend in illegal child employment in the United States since 2015.

Labor Department Investigates Use of Child Labor at Tyson and Perdue Slaughterhouses

Following reporting by the New York Times Magazine, the U.S. Department of Labor is investigating the illegal use of child labor at slaughterhouses owned by Tyson Foods (Tyson) and Perdue Farms (Perdue). Given the high-risk nature of the work, the use of minor workers at slaughterhouses is banned under federal law. The New York Times investigation alleges, however, that Tyson and Perdue contracted with companies that were employing migrant children. According to the reporting, the children were used to clean Tyson and Perdue’s slaughterhouses and some suffered horrific injuries. Following the reporting, Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to Tyson’s CEO seeking information and commitments to independently audit and end contracts related to the illegal use of child labor. Senators Tim Kaine and Cory Booker and Representative Hillary Scholten reportedly “said they would push for legislation and increased funding to hold companies accountable.”