Western Courier

Issue date: 2/10/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Peter Nelson Mark Klein, Cargill Inc. representative, came to Western Illinois University on Tuesday night to counter arguments to Eric Schlosser's book "Fast Food Nation." The First Year Experience requires students to read the book.

The Sandburg Theatre in the Western Illinois University Union was almost full Wednesday when speaker Mark Klein came to counter issues that were stated in Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation." Klein has worked for Cargill Inc. in Minneapolis as the communications director for many years.

"I don't fully understand how (Schlosser) can say some (of these) things when there are numbers out there (that prove differently)," said Klein, who has appeared on "60 Minutes" and in the New York Times to debate this topic.

Klein is referring to topics in Schlosser's book such as, employees of the meat packing industry being underpaid.

Klein said a study was done in Schyler, Neb. at Central Community College. The starting salary for an employee at Cargill Inc. was $10.30 per hour. The study in Schyler showed auto body technicians earned $10.18, mechanics made $9.29 and carpenters made $9.32.

"They're average wages, not low," Klein said.

Klein added how much an employee earns has to do with the location of the employee.

"There is a difference in the average (cost) of living," Klein added.

Another topic he defended was the safety of the employees in the industry. Klein said Schlosser was wrong in saying employees are in danger.

"If you go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics … we're not even on the list … on the first table," Klein said.

Klein added that research indicates that meat packing industries are safe. He said they may have numbers on the high side once in awhile for particluar reasons.

"In our work, we tell workers to report minor aches and pains so they don't turn into major aches and pains … common sense, right?" he said.

Klein said the meat packing industry was, however, more dangerous in the late 1980s and early '90s because they did not follow industry standards. He added now there are nurse stations in all buildings and they keep upgrading to safer machinery.

Continued...

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