{"id":1895,"date":"2020-04-17T14:10:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T19:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/?p=1895"},"modified":"2020-04-17T16:10:47","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T21:10:47","slug":"ufcw-local-663-calls-on-jbs-worthington-facility-to-slow-production-to-keep-workers-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw663.org\/blog\/2020\/04\/17\/ufcw-local-663-calls-on-jbs-worthington-facility-to-slow-production-to-keep-workers-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"UFCW Local 663 Calls on JBS Worthington Facility to Slow Production to Keep Workers Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

April\n17, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact: Jessica\nHayssen, 651-261-8559<\/p>\n\n\n\n

jessicah@ufcw663.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local Union Representing Front Line Workers Say COVID-19\nSpreading Rapidly Inside Food Processing Plants, More Social Distance Needed<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BROOKLYN CENTER MN \u2013<\/strong> Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 663\nPresident Matt Utecht called on JBS in Worthington to slow production speeds to\nallow for more social distancing on the line to keep workers safe. UFCW Local\n663 represents over 1850 workers at the facility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several reported cases of COVID-19 have been identified at the JBS pork production facility in Worthington. The plant is the largest pork production facility in Minnesota. UFCW Local 663 President Matt Utecht released the following statement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProduction\nline speeds inside JBS and other food processing plants in Minnesota must be\nimmediately slowed to make safe social distancing between workers possible.\nAllowing six feet between workers is the best and most proven way to flatten\nthe curve of COVID-19 and must be implemented by JBS and other companies without\ndelay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFailure\nto make this critical safety improvement will put our community and our\nnation\u2019s food supply at devastating risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt a time when schools and restaurants are being closed for the sake of public health, it defies logic to keep the people who make the food we all eat standing shoulder to shoulder while they work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is\nan incredibly serious situation. If we don\u2019t act now to slow line speeds at\nfood processing plants in Minnesota it will be too late for too many people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa Thoma, a union walking steward at the JBS\nplant said, \u201cWorkers are scared and frustrated. JBS needs to slow production\nlines now for the safety of all us workers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UFCW Local\n663 and JBS have already enacted strict safety procedures to keep workers safe.\nDespite the following efforts, we are still seeing a rapid increase of\nconfirmed COVID-19 cases within our plants and are urging line speeds to be\nimmediately slowed to promote six feet of social distancing between workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n