April 12, 2024
USDA WHISTLEBLOWER RIGHTS FOR CORPORATE PRODUCERS
WASHINGTON — Government Accountability Project praised the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural and Marketing Service for its rule that creates the nation’s first whistleblower protection for non-employees such as contract farmers and other producers of government-approved meat and poultry. Government Accountability Project had urged this breakthrough in public comments and ongoing representation and advocacy in support of exploited contract farmers who have blown the whistle on unfair and inhumane conditions on large-scale farms and abusive practices by Big Ag corporate poultry producers.
Government Accountability Project’s Legal Director, Tom Devine, explained the significance.
“USDA has pioneered a breakthrough by expanding anti-retaliation rights to corporate producers and contract farmers who blow the whistle. Until now, U.S. whistleblower laws have solely covered employees as labor-management rights. It should not matter whether the truth about food safety threats comes from a worker, a contract farmer or another corporation. All that matters is keeping contaminated and unsafe products from threatening the public. It will be invaluable support for litigation by family farmers and small businesses facing retaliation from agricultural giants. Courts have indicated this is the proper interpretation for enforcement of food safety whistleblowers laws on the books. The rule should make those victories universal.”
Government Accountability Project client Craig Watts, a contract grower for Perdue, suffered retaliation for speaking out about the condition of birds placed on his farm, which compromised both animal welfare and consumer health, noted,
“In a perfect world, farmers and workers alike will report the issues they see on a day-to-day basis, but these companies are the kings of covert retaliation methods.”
Government Accountability Project Of Counsel, Thad Guyer, commented,
“The lack of an USDA whistleblower protection regulation has been an extreme hardship on Government Accountability Project clients. In the past the USDA has brazenly asserted that the FSMA does not cover the agency, and the poultry industry has jumped on that bandwagon with an attitude of lawlessness and impunity. Hopefully this new regulatory regime will live up to our expectations and whistleblower needs.”
Government Accountability Project is grateful that this new rule recognizes the importance of protecting farmers like Craig Watts from retaliation. Their disclosures of abuses by Big Ag are vital to keeping the food system safe and secure.
Contact: Andrew Harman, Government Accountability Project Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.926.3304
Government Accountability Project is the nation’s leading whistleblower protection organization. Through litigating whistleblower cases, publicizing concerns and developing legal reforms, Government Accountability Project’s mission is to protect the public interest by promoting government and corporate accountability. Founded in 1977, Government Accountability Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.
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