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Smithfield's: Lawsuit on behalf of Missouri meat plant workers dismissed
Source: Associated Press
Lawsuit on behalf of Missouri meat plant workers dismissed
By JIM SALTER
May 6, 2020
OFALLON, Mo. (AP) A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed on behalf of employees at a rural Missouri meatpacking facility, ruling that oversight of how the plant adheres to guidance aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus falls to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, not the courts.
U.S. District Judge Greg Kays issued his 24-page ruling Tuesday in favor of Smithfield Foods. A lawsuit on behalf of workers at Smithfields pork processing plant in Milan, Missouri, sought an injunction requiring the plant to abide by federal guidelines. The lawsuit accused Virginia-based Smithfield of not doing enough to protect workers from the coronavirus.
Plaintiffs are naturally concerned for their health and the health of their community in these unprecedented times, Kays wrote. The Court takes their concern seriously. Nevertheless, the Court cannot ignore the USDAs and OSHAs authority over compliance ... or the significant steps Smithfield has taken to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak at the Plant.
The attorney for the workers, David Muraskin, didnt rule out an appeal but said the lawsuit itself prompted several changes at the plant, including better spacing of employees, additional cleaning and sanitizing, and an improved sick leave policy that means workers dont feel obligated to come to work if they have symptoms of the coronavirus.
-snip-
By JIM SALTER
May 6, 2020
OFALLON, Mo. (AP) A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed on behalf of employees at a rural Missouri meatpacking facility, ruling that oversight of how the plant adheres to guidance aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus falls to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, not the courts.
U.S. District Judge Greg Kays issued his 24-page ruling Tuesday in favor of Smithfield Foods. A lawsuit on behalf of workers at Smithfields pork processing plant in Milan, Missouri, sought an injunction requiring the plant to abide by federal guidelines. The lawsuit accused Virginia-based Smithfield of not doing enough to protect workers from the coronavirus.
Plaintiffs are naturally concerned for their health and the health of their community in these unprecedented times, Kays wrote. The Court takes their concern seriously. Nevertheless, the Court cannot ignore the USDAs and OSHAs authority over compliance ... or the significant steps Smithfield has taken to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak at the Plant.
The attorney for the workers, David Muraskin, didnt rule out an appeal but said the lawsuit itself prompted several changes at the plant, including better spacing of employees, additional cleaning and sanitizing, and an improved sick leave policy that means workers dont feel obligated to come to work if they have symptoms of the coronavirus.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/3471b794695bc5c2c40a76af08af805e
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Smithfield's: Lawsuit on behalf of Missouri meat plant workers dismissed (Original Post)
Eugene
May 2020
OP
Of course it used to, as did most government agencies, until taken over by the selfish one.
elleng
May 2020
#4
Everyone should walk out until they can be protected. This is what the the repuke fucks want.
onecaliberal
May 2020
#2
elleng
(130,895 posts)1. Right, if only Occupational Safety and Health Administration did it's job.
elleng
(130,895 posts)4. Of course it used to, as did most government agencies, until taken over by the selfish one.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)6. Absolutely!
Everything dump touches dies.
onecaliberal
(32,854 posts)2. Everyone should walk out until they can be protected. This is what the the repuke fucks want.
Were literally nothing to these corporations. They need to learn.
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)5. Dismiss Judge Kays, not lawsuits...