Trump to Order Meat Plants to Stay Open in Move Slammed by Union

[RandySF]

Environmental Working Group called the order a potential death sentence. The United Food and Commercial Workers union said in a statement that if workers aren’t safe, the food supply won’t be either. At least 20 workers in meat and food processing have died, and 5,000 meatpacking workers have either tested positive for the virus or were forced to self-quarantine, according to UFCW.

While unions have been speaking out against unsafe plant conditions and working for boosts in pay, collective bargaining agreements often restrict them from organizing or endorsing strikes. Still, lives are stake, unions say.

“People should never be expected to put their lives at risk by going to work,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. “If they can’t be assured of their safety, they have every right to make their concerns heard by their employers.”

Trump signaled the executive action at the White House on Tuesday, saying he planned to sign an order aimed at Tyson’s liability, which had become “a road block” for the company. He didn’t elaborate.

The order, though, will not be limited to Tyson, an administration official said. It will affect many processing plants supplying beef, chicken, eggs and pork.



https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-28/trump-says-he-s-issuing-order-for-tyson-s-unique-liability

[Squinch]

1. Sure. Play Russian Roulette with them. What have they got to lose?

And I guarantee there will be no requirements for company provided PPE or testing that will keep them alive.

[doc03]

2. I don't know but don't most of these meat

prosesing plants have immigrant labor?

[Wellstone ruled]

3. That is the answer to the

64k dollar question. This is going to get friggin ugly real quick.

[Rae]

4. Well other essential workers are putting their lives on the line

My husband is one of them. Food is essential, is it not?

[RandySF]

5. Trump's steak is not worth anyone's life.

[Rae]

6. Its not just Trump's steak

Its our entire meat industry. That is not trivial, no matter how you choose to state it. The same is happening in the diary industry. And agriculture. Food is essential. Period.

[Tink41]

8. Then the industry needs to step up

Provide the essential workers with protection. From previous reports from Smithfield it wasn't being done. They also were not informing people others were infected, and not allowing for compensation to recover and protect the rest of the workforce. I'm not a guinea pig, neither should you husband be This terrifies me.

[Rae]

9. Then they absolutely need to do this

I can't believe their unions were letting these companies get away with NOT doing this from the start. But it needs to be fixed fast.

[Tink41]

10. Who said Smithfield was Union?

I just added more to the "big picture" that no one should be willing to sacrifice themselves or their families if their employer will not protect them. It is meat processing plants all over the country union, non union. The last press release by Smithfield they were essentially blaming employees family culture as to why the virus spread there.

[Rae]

11. Smithfield does have a union

Just about all of them do. I'm not aware of any major meat packing plant that doesn't , but maybe I'm wrong.

[Tink41]

13. Fantastic!

Hopefully now that they know about the situation it will be dealt with.

[gibraltar72]

7. Easy to go all in with someone elses chips.

[pecosbob]

12. Many knew this would happen

Workers unwilling to put their lives on the line for dollars will be unceremoniously kicked off unemployment. Smithfield gets to hire new workers at lower wages (look at the unemployment numbers...it's a labor buyer's market). Disaster capitalism at work with your tax dollars propping up the fat cats' profit margins.

[Tink41]

14. I am terrified about this very notion.

Growing more anxious by the day, with talk of reopening, getting things started again. NO!!!!