By Ashton York

Zero Hour Arkansas (ZHA) and Students Advocating for the Environment (SAFE) hosted a film screening and discussion about poultry malpractice in Gearhart Hall on Nov. 13. The discussion featured award-winning journalist Rachell Sanchez-Smith and filmmaker Diana Campos, who showed attendees the trailer for Campos’ upcoming documentary about racial and labor justice for poultry workers in Northwest Arkansas.

Campos’ film is called “The Price of Poultry,” and it will mainly focus on chicken catchers, which are the people who catch birds and transfer them from poultry farms to trucks. Catchers are required to handle the birds in such a way that they are not harmed or stressed in order to reduce the number of chickens that die in the process.

The majority of the workers are undocumented, which prevents them from having many protections, Campos said.

“A lot of them, their wages aren’t protected,” Campos said. “So, if they don’t meet certain quotas, they just are not paid.”

Campos said there are several different ways that local contractors have taken advantage of their workers, such as violating child labor laws and not allowing injured workers to tell hospital staff they were hurt on the job. 

Campos’ father was once a chicken catcher, which inspired her to create a film that aims to expose the harsh and dangerous conditions these workers face. They usually work overnight and have extremely long hours. Her dad once had to work 16 hours straight.

She went on to describe what it was like when her dad was working for poultry contractors in Springdale. She said he would miss birthdays and holidays because he had to work constantly, no matter the time of year. 

Many workers like Campos’ dad do not come forward about unfair work practices because their job is at risk, and it is hard to find other work when they are undocumented, Campos said. She said this also has impacted her documentary production because not many people want to partake in it out of fear of getting fired.

“I’m hoping (the film) will at least make people more aware of (catchers),” Campos said. “There is a lot of conversation about the poultry plants, and there’s been a lot of movement with that, but I think the catchers are still getting the short end of the stick in terms of the entire chicken process. I’m hoping more people are more aware of how chicken gets to their household.”

Zero Hour hosts several similar events, as it is a statewide organization with a university chapter that aims to advocate for nature and society by fostering discussions about climate issues and amplifying underrepresented voices. Likewise, SAFE aims to educate students on environmental issues and encourage people to make choices that are better for the planet.
Both organizations hold many different events at the University of Arkansas, the next of which is a SELF Coalition and Campaign Meeting on Nov. 19 in Gearhart Hall.