April 24, 2020

 

US meatpacking union says 5,000 workers exposed to COVID-19

 

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said 13 workers have died from exposure to the virus, as workers work shoulder to shoulder at meat and food processing facilities, reported Reuters.

 

Major United States meat companies such as Tyson Foods, JBS SA and WH Group's Smithfield Foods have closed their beef and pork plants due to reported COVID-19 outbreaks, affecting food supplies in the country as demand increases at grocery stores.

 

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union has urged the government to supply protective equipment such as masks as they said they do not have enough.

 

The union comprises of 250,000 members from meat and food processing companies representing 80% of the United States beef and pork industry and 40% from poultry.

 

Meat processors have been thoroughly cleaning up hallways and doorways for safety and built dividers between workers, but union members are concerned about getting infected.

 

Margarita Heredia, a worker from the JBS pork plant in Marshalltown, Iowa said social distancing in these facilities is almost impossible.

 

Tyson Foods said it is saddened by worker deaths. Liz Croston, Tyson spokeswoman said the company is working hard to protect its workers while fulfilling its important role in feeding people.

 

Cargill said it sympathises with worker deaths.

 

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it is sourcing for face masks to be used by federal inspectors stationed at meat plants.

 

As inspectors must source for their own masks because of scarce supply, the USDA had authorised a one-time US$50 reimbursement to Food Safety and Inspection Service workersemployed away from home.

 

-      Reuters