Unpacking the facts: A rapid assessment of protein processing workers’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia

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A recent CDM survey with 288 protein processing workers in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia revealed that migrant and immigrant workers, those with limited English proficiency, and women in protein processing industries were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. These groups of workers faced barriers to healthcare and were more likely to face workers’ rights violations. Findings from the survey include:

• Workers with limited English proficiency were 11 times more likely to experience a health-related workers’ rights violation than those whose preferred language was English.
• Women were twice as likely than men to report having experienced a worker’s rights violation.
• Unvaccinated, non-unionized workers were 7 times more likely to express COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy than unvaccinated, unionized workers.