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QPP workers protest
Those affected by neurological disorder want answers
Published Saturday, November 29, 2008
Photo by Eric Johnson
A woman who withheld her name, protests outside the entrance to QPP on Hormel Century Parkway Saturday afternoon in support of those who contracted progressive inflamatory neuropathy (PIN) while working at QPP.
Workers affected by a neurological disorder contracted while extracting pig brains at Quality Pork Processors demonstrated outside the facility Saturday.
At least 18 former and current workers have been diagnosed with progressive inflammatory neuropathy (PIN), “an illness that has kind of defied explanation,” said Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. Daniel Lachance last April. Symptoms include pain, weakness, numbness, tingling and fatigue.
Workers reportedly became infected between November 2006 and November 2007 while working on or around the line called the “head table.” QPP was one of three facilities known to use compressors to blast out pigs’ brains for processing. Workers at two hog processing facilities in Nebraska and Indiana that also use the compressors were also diagnosed with PIN.
Demonstrators from the immigrant rights group Centro Campesino as well as affected workers and their families held picket signs outside the gates of QPP Saturday demanding answers to why the hog processor has allegedly denied workers’ medical restrictions and laid affected workers off. They are also demanding QPP process workers’ compensation claims.
“People are scared,” said 38-year-old Roberto Olmedo-Hernandez, who worked until March on a production line that opened up pigs’ stomachs. Now, since his diagnosis, he works in the laundry room, where he fights intense fatigue, headaches and foot pain on a daily basis.
Photo by Eric Johnson
Roberto Olmedo-Hernandez, 38, was one of several employees stricken with progressive inflammatory neuropathy (PIN). Behind him protesters chant across Hormel Century Parkway in support of people like Olmedo-Hernandez who contracted PIN.
Photo by Eric Johnson
Protester Susanna Hernandez holds a sign demanding justice Saturday afternoon during a rally across from QPP for those stricken with progressive inflamatory neuropathy (PIN).
The Mexican-born father of three said doctors at Mayo Clinic and Austin Medical Center don’t know how to help him, and his symptoms are getting worse. He said his union, Local 9, has not been of any help.
“They don’t want to take my case,” he said of the doctors. “I’ve been sick since March, and nobody is asking me how I am. They know I’m sick.”
Olmedo-Hernandez said he believes QPP is taking advantage of workers’ citizenship status.
“They see me — I’m sick, sometimes I’m sleepy,” he said. “I’m working now because I don’t have a choice.
“My life is not normal now,” he said. “I’m not scared for myself now, but my kids, my wife. My kids are asking me if I’m going to die.”
Another former worker, a 22-year-old female who preferred to remain anonymous, said she has been sick for two years. The only medication doctors can prescribe is steroids, which they claim may have secondary complications.
“They don’t know how many years until I have medication,” she said.
Victor Contreras, executive director of Centro Campesino, said his organization, which has an office in Austin, has been working with seven QPP employees diagnosed with PIN. He alleged Saturday that QPP CEO Kelly Wadding assured them that “everything was under control.”
“It’s a very big problem,” Contreras said.
Wadding could not be reached for comment Saturday.
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Comments
Posted by edgar (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At least mexico is next door but whites are from euorpe but that's not the point pin dissese doesn't discreminate by race nore does death.
Posted by milesaway (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rammer97 in case you forgot the first people to complain were white. Are you saying that since she won her work comp case maybe the Mexicans should file a discrimmination case because they would have a better chance of winning?? Did you not read they have citizenship
status. But that doesn't matter. They are all humans, they are sick, and they deserve care.
Posted by leftthehatebehind (anonymous) on November 29, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rammer97... what a dumb comment. Does everything ALWAYS have to be about race with some of you ignorant people?? This is NOT about race!! Get over it.
My spouse worked there for 15 years... the place is horrible and they could care less about the workers. Of course the union will not help either- they never do- pay them every week for NOTHING. And Kelly Wadding is worthless too.
Posted by upset66 (anonymous) on November 30, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rammer97 I agree with you. I work there too.They treat us like dogs. These people might be illegal but QPP knew that when they hired them. Now that there sick all of a sudden they cant work there because of legal status. Just a way to get rid of them so they dont have to pay for making them sick. Its sad and something needs to be done about it. Like you said the uion does nothing we pay for them to sit and do nothing.
Posted by 2madmamas (anonymous) on November 30, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe Kelly Wadding and his fellow Austin CEO's should go work on the line where these people have been exposed to pin...hum, do you suppose they'd be willing to do that? No, they'd never expose themselves, they just want their money, and it doesn't matter how they get it, or who or what they hurt by their greed.
Posted by tiffany (anonymous) on November 30, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is the problem.What does race has to with critical disease that accured in the work place.Hands down the company should provide financial support and mental support to those who lost a part of life.Disease don't go for color of skin.Those people did not ask for this,it happened.Now many love one's lost there family member whether financally,physically,or mentally.It is sad that race has to be thrown.Get real.and get over the fact that different colors are national.Free country.Everything that happens to these companies should happen.The union needs to stop taking money out of people check if they are not going to represent right.Although it has been said these companies rule mower county and in addition they do pay companies and people off to keep hush hush,what goes around comes around.Money will be here when you are dead and gone,reputation is already damage.you deserve it!!!!
Posted by upset66 (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WTG tiffany
Race shouldnt have anything to do with it. They knew these people where illegal and had false papers when they hired them. First clue they dont speak any english people!! But its not only the Hispanics that got this dreadful disease. Its not only the people that have pins that get treated bad either by the company. Any person with a injury from that place gets treated the same. Everyone that works in that plant are over worked and under paid. Only ones making the money is management and the big wigs. The employees pay with there body and get dicarded if injured. Just like the young man that had only been there for a week.He did something a supervisor told him to do and was hurt . After he was heald and ready to go back to the line they fired him after a few days. Now who didnt see that coming.
Posted by ericjohnsonia (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There is alot of good supervisors and people that work at QPP. I have friends that are managers and in the union. I am suprised that Hormel allows Kelly W. to remain in charge. But please dont down play all the good people there. Look at the Iowa plant that is now shut down because of hiring all the people without papers. Look what that did to the town. I agree the union and Kelly Golf together and are not there for the workers but please look at the big pic. We have to be educated and do things that wont hurt this town but at the same time make QPP stop hiring workers without papers. I lived through the strike I have seen both sides from corp and union. But please, we have sick people here. We have to make sure they recover first. The second is look at who is in charge. Third, its not the peoples fault for wanting a better life.(we would do the same for our families) But I think the Gov. should have hefty fines for Corps that hire people without papers. No walls on boarders, no deporting of people will stop all of this. Companies listen to the bottom line. Money. so first issue once again, heal the sick. second look at the bottom line. Look at what changes would need to be made and what that would do to Austin and Mower Co. the old saying Proactive instead of reactive.
Posted by jonboy (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At Hormel, which is NOT QPP, the plant HR dept there DOES verify all employee's that work at the plant. The employee brings in their identification which needs to be correct and legal then that information is VERIFIED through the department of homeland security. QPP, does the same thing. Hello, they don't just bring in someone to work with no paperwork or legal id's....they don't do that.
The union is just another government agency........the leaders just want your money to support them....so they don't have to get up and go work on the "line." The stewards do their best but the union heads, especially those in mower county do NOTHING for you! They hold NO power, NO authority.
I agree that QPP needs to help all those in need of medical help........there's nothing to discuss, just help them. Help their families. DO the right thing. Stop pointing fingers at the "minorities," All races are affected by this.
Posted by joeybrown (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
QPP is Hormel, with a leased building and equipment, and lower wages. Again, bttm line is money. People, to them, are no better than the pigs they slaughter. I have worked at both places and will never regret my decision to leave either one of them.
Posted by delo (anonymous) on December 1, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
stop eating pork
Posted by upset66 (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jonboy,
Yes they do have ids but they buy them off people.Its funny how some of them have been fired for having false papers because they worked for years and hadnt filed taxes and the IRS caught up with them. Then a few weeks later there working at Hormel or come back to QPP under a different name. Happens all the time. I know alot of them that have done this. They just go buy another id. Just like when the deport them why bother they will be back in a few weeks anyway.
Posted by 2madmamas (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ericjohnsonia.
Yes there are good supervisors at Hormel, and it is too bad that as the rotten apples go, so do the rotten supervisors...they tend to make the whole thing rot even if as the good apples go, so do the good supervisors, I do feel for the good ones!
Maybe the good supervisors could be good to their country, and start standing up for what is right, and let those rotten supervisors know they are breaking the laws of this land. This would restore some faith in the rest of us who wish to have law-abiding citizens living next to us...really, not too much to ask for!
It really is sad that an illegal alien who has three children is deathly ill, and now it is being used against him....just goes to show you...the bottom line is truly the only thing that counts at that plant!
Posted by Sara (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe I don't understand. If they got sick from their job and their employer won't compensate them, then why don't they just take them to court?
Posted by 2madmamas (anonymous) on December 2, 2008 at 8:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sara,
Do you think an illegal alien would stand a chance in court? That is a chance they have taken by coming here illegally. It is sad but true...I don't wish anyone ill, even if they are not here legally.
I do wish they were here legally, and we knew exactly who they are, and what they bring to this country. The people who hired them, and unintentionally exposed them to the pin danger have exploited them in more ways than one.
Corporations should be fined heavily for creating this terrible situation.
Posted by Sara (anonymous) on December 4, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh... So only illegal immigrants got sick, or are they are the only ones who are being refused compensation.
Posted by upset66 (anonymous) on December 5, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sara
No its just not Hispanics that got this pins disease. They were refusing compensation for all the people that got the disease.The Hispanics that were illegal were let go, is what I understand and they arent getting compensation which isnt right. They may not be legal but they did work there and were exposed at the job, so I believe they should be liable for them for all of them, legal workers and illegal workers. I work there, I see these people with this pins. I knew alot of them before they got it. Some of them when they walk you can see the pain in there face. There lives have changed so much.
Posted by stephanie (anonymous) on December 12, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this is about human life. if we can save dogs and other pets at home why reduce ourselves to illegal and legal occupants of Austin. In this kind of horrible accident on human workers;
i'd call on human right groups to come out strongly and speak for these pple; i'd call on law makers to amend some laws that will allow these kind of cases heard in court without prejudice.
Didn't these workers also help bring to our attn that pig brains are dangerous? right, so, another human being, white, black blue in future might be able to contain this danger.
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