June 17, 2020

 

US meatpackers union report many absent workers

 

Even after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order for meat plants to stay open, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) said workers are either fearful of returning or are placed in quarantine, Reuters reported.

 

Mark Lauritsen, one of the vice presidents at UFCW said because workers aren't guaranteed a safe workplace, about 30% to 50% of workers are scared to go back to work.

 

The UCFW represents about 80% workers from beef and pork production in the United States.

 

Reuters was informed by meatpacking workers, leaders of unions and advocates that workers aren't confident that their safety at the workplace will be protected by management. The number of absent workers differs between plants, but this means plants are struggling to resume operations to pre-COVID-19 output.

 

As many as 20 meat plants were closed after COVID-19 outbreaks were discovered among workers, with production down 45%. The UCFW union said pork plants are operating at 75% capacity.

 

438,000 swine have been slaughtered by processors on June 12, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. This is 12% lower compared to output before the pandemic.

 

Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods and other US major meatpackers said they have implemented strict safety precautions at high costs to safeguard their workers. These include building physical barriers at the plant floor, taking temperatures, supplying protective equipment and staggering breaks.

 

To increase output, meat plants have stopped producing products that need extra work, such as boneless meat, while throwing away products that would otherwise be sold such as offal.

 

The temporary closure of meat plants pushed meat prices 40.4% higher in May,

 

However COVID-19 infections are steadily increasing in large meatpacking plants located in rural counties. The Kansas state health department said 2,896 meat plant workers in the state have tested positive for COVID-19, one third of all cases in Kansas.

 

BJ Motley, South Dakota UFCW president said about 1,200 workers from Smithfield Food's South Dakota pork plant have been absent as of June 1. 850 workers tested positive for COVID-19 at the plant, which was closed from April 15 to May 7.

 

Tyson Foods said 591 workers, or 26% of its workforce have tested positive for COVID-19. The company said in its earnings report that output slowdown is expected with less workers, and that it will continue to improve its safety and social distancing measures.

 

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in Kansas, 2,900 meatpacking workers from five plants operated by Cargill, National Beef Packing Company and Tyson Foods have been absent from work between late April and early May.

 

US CDC officials reported that a National Beef plant in Dodge City, Kansas had workers not wearing masks correctly or used face shields that are not effective in protecting against COVID-19. National Beef said it aims to safeguard its workers while operating plants to supply meat for its consumers.

 

-      Reuters