Postville, Iowa - Despite being the site of the largest single-site immigration raid in U.S. history, workers say that Agriprocessors in Postville has done little to improve the safety and welfare of its workers.

    More than a dozen current and former employees reported last week that poor working conditions persist at the plant, with low pay and high turnover also common at the nation's largest kosher meat-processing plant.

    Agriprocessors spokesman Chaim Abrahams said the company took steps last week to ensure it complies with all state and federal laws. On Thursday and Friday, he said, a workplace safety compliance expert toured the facility to review its practices.

    But workers say their complaints are not new - over the years, Agriprocessors has left a long trail of workplace safety violations documented by state and federal authorities.

    Earlier this month, Jim Martin, a former U.S. attorney, was hired as the company's chief compliance officer. He said he's spent a significant amount of time with plant supervisors addressing "workplace health and safety issues."

    On Friday, for example, he notified employees of a toll-free, bilingual tip line they can call to report any concerns anonymously.

    But those actions came too late for Derrick Howard. Standing last week amid "Now Hiring" signs on the plant's lawn, Howard, 32, waited to begin the 50-hour journey home to Amarillo, Texas.

    A veteran of the industry, he said he expected the backbreaking labor, but he said he was taken aback by the company's disregard for his personal safety.

    "To me, they don't think about your physical (health); you can actually hurt yourself," he said. "I think they're more worried about production than their people."

    A half-dozen current and former employees, all with previous meatpacking experience, said they have never worked at a plant with such inadequate training.

    After three weeks on the job, Rene Lopez sat near the plant's entrance waiting to join Howard on the trip home. Lopez, 37, said supervisors yelled at workers who butchered the meat for not keeping up with the pace of the production line. He said the task proved impossible, with so few workers and so little training.

    Lopez, who speaks only Spanish, said new workers were never trained on how to properly cut meat, or even how to sharpen a knife.

    "Without proper training, how can we keep up with production?" he said.

    Many complaints, workers said, center on sales pitches made by employment agencies in Texas.

    Recruiters promised monthly rent around $120, wages significantly higher than $10 an hour and other perks, workers said.

    Landlords in town say they never made such offers.

    Abrahams, the Agriprocessors spokesman, said the company is looking into the allegations.

    "We have specifically sought out labor companies with reputations for honesty and integrity," he said.

    Another worker, Jose Quintanilla, said he planned to stay, even though he considers substandard working and living conditions.

    "If I lose this job, how the hell am I going to get home?" he said.