Thousands of members of UFCW Local 700 work in meatpacking and poultry plants in our state. Meat and poultry slaughter and processing workers are essential to ensuring that every American is able to continue to access the food they need to feed their families.
We share the concern over the food supply. But, an April 28 federal executive order that requires meat packing and processing to remain open during the pandemic fails to address the safety of the workers who are putting their lives on the line during this pandemic.
We sent a letter to Gov. Holcomb urging him to require employers in Indiana to: enforce physical distancing; provide respirators; provide testing; provide mandatory paid quarantine; and protect workers from retaliation.