Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Trump to order meat plants to work

United States President Donald Trump said he is going to sign an executive order requiring meat-packing plants to remain open.

He indicated that he’s acting because Tyson Foods said it is closing plants to avoid lawsuits and liabilities if it continues to operate red meat and poultry plants.

Trump said he will declare meat-packing an essential service.

Unions responded by saying they want protection for workers, including PPE (personal protection equipment) from the federal government's stockpile.

About eight per cent of U.S. meat-packing capacity has shut down temporarily because of COVID-19 outbreaks among staff and others that remain open are running at 50 to 75 per cent capacity, according to a survey by Meatingplace Magazine this week.