IBP Introduction

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Written 

by 

Jeff Duster

    On March 29, 1988, the world’s second largest meatpacker, IBP, announced that it planned to build a plant in the Waterloo area. IBP, which had a history of high turnover rates and unsafe working conditions, drew mixed reviews from the citizens of Waterloo when the announcement was made. Many people feared that IBP's high turnover rate would lead to more crime in the city, while others argued for them because Waterloo industry had been hit hard by the closing of Rath Packing in 1985 and layoffs at John Deere in the months preceding. How was the meatpacker able to build here? And how has it affected the city of Waterloo?

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