A delegation that includes an Austin meatpacker testified last week before the U.

Tuesday, April 25, 2000

A delegation that includes an Austin meatpacker testified last week before the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupation Safety and Health Administration.

Dennis LeBarron, a meatpacker employed at Quality Pork Processors Inc. in Austin, was among meatpacking industry workers to testify at hearings on April 18 in Washington, D.C.

Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union from small towns across America were to present graphic testimony demonstrating the urgent needs for establishing a strong ergonomic standard for addressing crippling musculoskeletal disorders.

Austin’s LeBarron was joined by Jerry Mefford, an ergonomics coordinator in at meatpacking plant at Schuyler, Neb., Chuck Clayton, a union representative and ergonomics coordinator in a meatpacking plant at Dakota City, Iowa; Everett McCoy, a nurse’s assistant from Birmingham, Ala., and Judy Davidson, a union leader from St. Louis, Mo.

Each year, nearly 650,000 workers develop MSDs, which cost businesses and the U.S. economy nearly $60 billion.

According to a UFCW announcement, the witnesses were to speak about the devastating consequences of failing to control ergonomic stressors. Meatpacking, health care and retail workers described their injuries and the effect the injuries have had on their lives and their ability to work.

LeBarron is UFCW Local 9’s bargaining unit representative at QPP, a hog slaughtering facility.