Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

bubbazero

(296 posts)
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 06:52 PM Apr 2020

Tyson, if this is true--your done

Workers at Waterloo, IA Tyson's food corp have reported people working while showing respiratory symptoms of COVID-19. They are afraid of losing jobs, many do not speak English, and some may be of questionable legal status. Per Waterloo Courier article 4/16/20 It just gets worse as you read the article--workers claim people are being allowed to come to work sick, the management knows they are sick, but all fear losing their jobs---The state dept of public health says not enough cases in Waterloo plant to declare outbreak, but workers indicate actual cases are more than enough.--workers and managers, (on condition of animosity) claim at least 5 cases, which exceeds state standards--Much information in article from People's Community Health Clinic in Waterloo, Which serves many non-English speaking workers--officially People's Clinic declined to confirm, but medical staff apparently sounded the alarm.....................And now for the absolute fucking worst possible news--tho Tyson's disputes the claim--numerous employees have claimed that many of the new cases came from workers who were moved from plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa. Operations at Columbus Junction have been suspended since APR. 6.......The charge is Tyson's either allowed the workers to move, or had them moved, from a plant CLOSED BECAUSE OF A COVID-19 OUTBREAK. No quarantine time in between. Yea, that's how you SPREAD a virus (or almost any other pathogenic outbreak) Will ask fellow Iowegians to help monitor this story. If this last act turn out to be true, I would suggest heavy fines, and yanking TYSON's permit to operate ANY slaughter plants in Iowa.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Tyson, if this is true--your done (Original Post) bubbazero Apr 2020 OP
"On condition of animosity?" I know it's just an error but Croney Apr 2020 #1
sorry bubbazero Apr 2020 #3
Well,hate to say it, Wellstone ruled Apr 2020 #2
Agreed bubbazero Apr 2020 #4
Know the story. Wellstone ruled Apr 2020 #5
But Kansas Kim Said... econron Apr 2020 #6
Link please? hedda_foil Apr 2020 #7
Here's an article from the Waterloo Courier Cairycat Apr 2020 #8
Horrible! hedda_foil Apr 2020 #11
Another article, more about Tyson Cairycat Apr 2020 #9
Thanks Cairycat ! hedda_foil Apr 2020 #10

bubbazero

(296 posts)
3. sorry
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 07:02 PM
Apr 2020

but seeing as you like it, and I'm also REALLY to mad to continue to PUNISH my keyboard, forgive me if I leave it for now.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
2. Well,hate to say it,
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 07:01 PM
Apr 2020

but,I told you so. If you want to get the real Skinny on miss behavior by a Corporation,just ask the Maintenance people or the Guys and Gals working the Yard.

Chuckie of Grass Ass as well as Senator Hog Nuts will run interference big time on this.

econron

(152 posts)
6. But Kansas Kim Said...
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 07:36 PM
Apr 2020

She was protecting the food supply chain......

Guess she needed to try harder because she maxed out worker smarter long ago.

Cairycat

(1,697 posts)
8. Here's an article from the Waterloo Courier
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 08:26 PM
Apr 2020
https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/1-dead-of-covid-19-in-black-hawk-co-tyson-now-classified-as-having-outbreak/article_eee55055-2ebb-51d8-8678-b8696880fcc4.html#tracking-source=home-breaking

The article talks about the situation in Black Hawk County and northeast Iowa in general. Here's an excerpt from the part about Tyson:

Egbuonye (BH County Health Director) thanked Tyson for allowing health officials inside its facilities last week and talked about measures the company implemented to prevent coronavirus spread.

...

“We have witnessed the difficulty of social distancing in Tyson,” Egbuonye said. “It’s a problem that I truly believe is very difficult for food production facilities.”

Employees of Tyson had been saying as much, telling The Courier this week they were terrified coronavirus had been spreading amid inadequate protections by the company.

“There was clearly more than could have and should have been done,” Sheriff Tony Thompson said. “Today, our entire countywide health care delivery and virus response system is paying the price for those lapses in protocol.”

Any employee of Tyson in Waterloo experiencing symptoms was now eligible for coronavirus testing at MercyOne, UnityPoint-Allen Hospital and Peoples Clinic. County officials received 1500 new tests kits from the state to help facilitate that.

Cairycat

(1,697 posts)
9. Another article, more about Tyson
Thu Apr 16, 2020, 08:31 PM
Apr 2020
https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/tyson-says-worker-accounts-inaccurate-but-worker-rights-orgs-hearing-similar-accounts-of-conditions/article_1b6eaeb4-a09a-552d-beb4-9a00717ff4b9.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

She noted such information on the plant's safety procedures was being provided in "several languages," the company's absentee policy was "relaxed" and those who had questions or concerns were encouraged to have a face-to-face conversation with their direct supervisor or manager.

"This is a challenging time, and they're feeling anxious," Croston acknowledged. "We believe information is the best tool for fighting this virus. We also encouraging them to tell us what they're seeing."

Those reassurances didn't match what immigrant and refugee organizations across Iowa have been hearing from workers in recent days, said Erica Johnson with American Friends Service Committee of Iowa.

"People were afraid to work. They were almost being gaslighted by management," Johnson said. "The information that is coming out is not what we're hearing. (Workers are) actually afraid, and they need somebody to stand up and take proactive measures."

"She" above is Liz Croston, a Tyson spokesperson.
Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Iowa»Tyson, if this is true--y...