She has done this repetitive work for years. Now her hands and arms are often numb. Sometimes the pain keeps her awake at night. She cannot afford to pay the insurance deductible to see a doctor. That s what I see the most.
People have to leave the plant because of illness.
Maria Montez is not alone. She is just one of the many people whose story is included in the new pastoral letter, Voices and Choices , released this past November with the signatures of 41 Catholic bishops of the South. Ala. Years of testimony from poultry growers and processing workers at this annual meeting prepared the way for this pastoral message from bishops in dioceses most affected by the poultry industry. Over the last two years, additional input was systematically gathered from hundreds of people and more than a dozen organizations from poultry workers and managers to diocesan officials and bishops. While the document is specific to the poultry industry, the issues raised apply to many businesses, including manufacturing and agriculture in general.