Union requests safety first as USDA clamps down on meatpackers
The US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has sent letters to meatpackers and governors “establishing clear expectations for the implementation of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order” under the Defense Production Act that compelled the factories to stay open.
“USDA expects state and local officials to work with these critical meat processing facilities to maintain operational status while protecting the health of their employees,” Secretary Perdue said.
“Meat processing facilities are critical infrastructure and are essential to the national security of our nation. Keeping these facilities operational is critical to the food supply chain and we expect our partners across the country to work with us on this issue.”
Meat packing facilities have been some of the businesses hardest hit by the covid-19 in terms of staff illness, and many have had to temporarily close due to staff shortages.
Mr Perdue’s letter added that “meat and poultry processing plants currently closed and without a clear timetable for near-term reopening should submit to USDA written documentation of their protocol, developed based on the CDC/OSHA guidance, and resume operations as soon as they are able”.
He added: “USDA, alongside our Federal partners at CDC and OSHA, will continue to work with State and local officials to ensure that facilities are implementing best practices designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, while maintaining operations. Further action under the Executive Order and the Defense Production Act is under consideration and will be taken if necessary.”
On April 23, Marc Perrone, international president of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCU), said more than 5,000 meatpacking workers had been hospitalised or are showing symptoms and at least 20 had died.
The UFCW represents more than 250,000 meatpacking and food processing workers, and has also written to every state’s governor in the country, calling on them put workers’ safety first. It has published a list of measures, including testing for all employees.
“In order to protect our nation’s food supply as President Trump is calling for us to do, we must work together to keep the hard-working men and women in these plants safe. Now, more than ever, this must be a priority for all of our state and national leaders,” said Mr Perrone.
