ICE RAIDS NATION'S LARGEST KOSHER MEATPACKING PLANT

Wow. Up to 700 workers were arrested at Agriprocessors in Iowa, the nation's largest Kosher meat processing facility and one of the largest Kosher meat processing plants in the world. Whether DHS realizes it or not, this will have an immediate and substantial impact on the country's Jewish community. The plant is in Iowa, but the meat is shipped to Jewish communities across the country. Kosher meat is already considerably more expensive than regular meat and this will no doubt lead to an immediate shortage and substantial increase in prices.

Comments

[Paul_10009]

Interesting, isn't it? Of all the 1,926 meat-packing plants in the U.S. (95 of which are in Iowa) the one chosen is the largest Kosher meat-packing plant in the country. I am sure the old boys' network that controls Cargill, Hormel, Smithfield Packing, and Swift, among others, have no plants that either use illegal immigrants or violate work rules, ethics, or codes. Eric Schlosser, in "Fast Food Nation," spent considerable time revealing the extremes almost ALL meat-packing companies go to in an effort to improve the profit margin, lowering the "bottom line," and increasing the price per share. But, surprise, the example is being made, not for work code or even health violations, but for using below market cheap labor, immigration "crimes." Why should we pay a living wage when it's obvious that would cause a lowering in the net income of the company? In our modern capitalist world, business is the new religious ethos. But, just in case, get the "other," the latino. If you think there's not a subtle undercurrent of anti-semitism in the choice of packing plants, and I'm not arguing that the Agriprocessors plant was pristine, why haven't we heard of a similar effort at any of the other 1,925 meat packing plants? This is a warning from an administration that speaks out of both sides of its mouth at the same time. Doing that, one should hear a resonating echo of "nativism" and "hate."

[H1B]

"Everything has an effect, yes. Back when meatpacking paid $20 per hour or more, before companies hired illegal labor to do it, the price of meat was not an issue. If the price of meat must go up, so be it. Perhaps we'll lose a little weight. We just can't tolerate the massive lawbreaking that has been occurring, and until now, been ignored by the authorities. Identify theft is a serious matter. Presenting a false SSN to obtain employment is a felony."

BTW, feeding ones family is not a crime.

[Mary]

Everything has an effect, yes. Back when meatpacking paid $20 per hour or more, before companies hired illegal labor to do it, the price of meat was not an issue. If the price of meat must go up, so be it. Perhaps we'll lose a little weight. We just can't tolerate the massive lawbreaking that has been occurring, and until now, been ignored by the authorities. Identify theft is a serious matter. Presenting a false SSN to obtain employment is a felony.

[kosher]

But if meat is being processed by illegal workers, how can it be kosher?!?

[Another voice]

Lame or not cost increases are a reality and I do not think labor unions would go away over night and with out a fight specially in an election year where the democrats are expected to take everything labor union support is big.

[AlexSD]

Anyone else thinks that the cost increase argument is a bit lame?
We could offset the cost increase by banning the labor unions. That has to drive the production cost down.

[Another voice]

As if the price of food was not already going high enough now we artificially are affecting the supply by restricting the output of these plants. Just what the US Economy needs right now!!!!!