Dear Brothers and Sisters,
USDA Food Safcty and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed rules to establish new maximum line speed rates at poultry processing and other facilities, have been filed with a deadline for public comments on April 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM. FSIS proposes allowing young chicken establishments to operate at line speeds up to 175 birds per minute (up from 140 birds per minute under current regulations).
It does not have to be this way. We have fought against these increased line speeds before, and we need to do so again.
The fight against line speed increases is not unanticipated or unknown to us. We are hopeful that by taking swift action and engaging the people who face the greatest threat of these proposed rules, we can once again stop these proposed regulations from becoming rules, but we need your help!
It is crucial for us to work together to make sure the USDA understands how this will impact our members and the communities they serve. If you would like to give testimony please reach out to your Local Union Representative, Union Stewards, or you can reach us at your Local Union office at #(281)-448-5555. Commenting on this proposed rule may also be submitted on your own through several methods by following the attached link on the homepage of our website at ufcw455.org.
Submitting public statements is one of the only ways we have to stop the proposed new FSIS rules. so we ask all of our members to reach out and for their support.
Sincerely & fraternally,
W. Brandon Hopkins
President
