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A bill has been introduced in Lincoln to protect workers in the agriculture sector from dangerous workplace practices and get ahead of a potential avian flu outbreak by having safeguards in place.

Legislative Bill 573 seeks to protect poultry industry employees from a strain of avian influenza on the rise in the Midwest. It would entitle workers to be paid if an outbreak shuts down their workplace.

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Avian flu cases are up on the East Coast, but also in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Illinois. Officials worry Nebraska could be next.

Graham Christensen, president of the advocacy group G.C. Resolve, which works on agriculture and meatpacking industry issues, outlined its goals.

"Some of the things we're calling for would be 12 works of severance pay for workers, and at least 180 days of lost revenue," Christensen said.

Recent data from Rural Policy Action show rural workers earn less, are less likely to have benefits like paid leave, and are more likely to be injured on the job. Ag officials across the Midwest said they are working to track avian flu cases and slow its spread.

Christensen pointed out he and other ag industry advocates also want to see protections for workers who could potentially stop disease outbreaks or other problems before they happen by reporting their concerns.

"We want to see labor standards for meat packers, processors and contract growers include whistleblower protections, and protections from discrimination when they go to actually try to report that they don't feel intimidated," he added.

Recent polling from the Rural Democracy Initiative found more than three-quarters of rural voters would choose candidates for public office who support workers' rights to bargain for living wages and safe working conditions.