Human Suffering
Conditions for Slaughterhouse Workers
Here is a quote from a slaughterhouse worker, from the book "Slaughterhouse" by Gail Eisnitz:
'The treatment that we receive is very bad,’ said a Mexican man. ‘If we talk for a moment while working, one supervisor told us that he would cut off our tongues. Even to go to the bathroom becomes a problem for us. I am a diabetic, and I need to use the bathroom frequently. I suffer very much because sometimes I need to use the bathroom and I am not allowed to do so. The
past month, two workers made a mess in their pants because they were not allowed to use the bathroom even on an emergency basis. We have been told that if we use the bathroom outside of the break time, that the plant doors are open
and we can leave because other workers can be hired in our place right away. Sometimes it’s worse than being a slave. Due to oppressive conditions like these, turnover rates in many plants soar.’ (page 275)
'The treatment that we receive is very bad,’ said a Mexican man. ‘If we talk for a moment while working, one supervisor told us that he would cut off our tongues. Even to go to the bathroom becomes a problem for us. I am a diabetic, and I need to use the bathroom frequently. I suffer very much because sometimes I need to use the bathroom and I am not allowed to do so. The
past month, two workers made a mess in their pants because they were not allowed to use the bathroom even on an emergency basis. We have been told that if we use the bathroom outside of the break time, that the plant doors are open
and we can leave because other workers can be hired in our place right away. Sometimes it’s worse than being a slave. Due to oppressive conditions like these, turnover rates in many plants soar.’ (page 275)
