President to Sign Order to Keep Meat Plants Open
It's a tough spot to be in. Balancing the safety needs of the workers and the desire to prevent a breaking point in the country's food supply.
That's the rock and hard place that the U.S.A. finds itself between today, with the president saying he will sign an executive order to keep the meat processing plants open despite the coronavirus infections and deaths that have lead to their closings.
According to Iowa's News Now report from the Associated Press, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said that "20 U.S. food-processing and meatpacking union workers in the U.S. have died". The report went on to say that around "6,500 are sick or have been exposed to the virus while working near someone who tested positive." The union represents 1.3 million food and retail workers.
The closed Tyson plant in Waterloo could re-open if Trump's order is successful. But opening back up begs the question: Who will protect the workers?
Consider this: So far, how well have you fared by counting on your employer or the government to help protect you? The answer to that question should tell you all you need to know.