Meatpackers want plant closed after at least 153 workers sickened

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 770 is calling on Smithfield Foods to close its Farmer John meatpacking plant in Vernon, CA after at least 153 employees have tested positive for COVID-19. John Grant, president of the local, said, that Smithfield has failed to provide full information on what is going on inside the facility and without that it is impossible to make informed decisions about protecting workers. Smithfield issued a statement that workers at the plant “are crucial to our nation’s response to COVID-19. We thank them for keeping food on America’s tables and have implemented aggressive measures to protect their health and safety during this pandemic.”