Senate Democrats have opened an investigation into four meat packers. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker cite reports of Tyson, JBS, Cargill and Smithfield exporting record amounts of pork to China, but they say that at the same time the companies warned of meat shortages in the U.S. Grocers placed limits as a result and prices spiked.The lawmakers are requesting information on the amount of pork exported to China and how they are protecting plant workers from COVID-19.
OSHA regulators in Iowa say that the Waterloo Tyson plant had no workplace safety violations during an April inspection. The investigation comes after lawmakers alleged the plan had an unsafe work environment. The facility shut down for about two weeks and reopened with new safety protocols.
More than 35 percent of workers tested positive for the virus or antibodies, in early May. Tyson has not released the number of deaths among employees at this plant but the number of cases among workers is declining.
The labor union at Indiana’s Maple Leaf Farms wants hazard pay for workers. The state is in the final stages of reopening their economy, however COVID cases in the county that the plant is located in are rising.
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