Sins, if you and I were to sit down and detail the abuses of workers that occur in these plants, we would both be in tears. It isn't just hams. I remember a turkey kill plant I was organizing. The workers hands would get so cold, working a full shift, and repetitive motion, that I would walk through the parking lot and see men and women, sitting rubbing their hands and crying. The bosses were so production oriented that people were afraid to go to the bathroom. They would be followed and timed. Finally, many of the women took to wearing adult diapers so they didn't have to leave the line. Often these were immigrant workers, legal and illegal, and the employer would take advantage of that.

The Jungle isn't just a novel. It is real. It is sad. It is an abomination. And the fact that we continue to elect lawmakers who spit in the face of workers rights borders on sinful. Our answer to a lack of workers rights, and to wretched working conditions in other countries seems to be to compete with them for the worst conditions.

Mick