Sacramento, CA – UFCW Western States Council released the following statements after the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and the California Department of Public Health issued guidance for California’s meatpacking plants to keep customers and workers safe from COVID-19 infection:
“UFCW members in California’s meatpacking plants are going to work every day because we know we are needed now more than ever to keep the food supply chain intact and Californians healthy and fed,” said John Grant, president, UFCW Local 770. “We appreciate that Cal/OSHA has recognized the unique role our workers in our meatpacking plants have on the frontlines of this crisis and the risk we face from constant exposure to the public. These guidelines are critical in an environment where the serious and deadly impact of COVID-19 on meatpacking plants is evident across the country and in California.”
“Safety of workers must be the state’s top priority and UFCW is eager to see these standards implemented statewide and enforced regularly to minimize the risk our members and their families face, and to slow the virus’ spread in our communities,” said Joe Duffle, president, UFCW Local 1167. “Priority testing and tracking and tracing of cases will help keep workers healthy to prevent the virus from spreading and allowing these plants to remain open and the food supply secure.”
# # #
CONTACT: Jenna Thompson, 949.246.1620, [email protected]