1,300 sign petition to close beef plant near Tri-Cities with coronavirus outbreak

More than 1,300 have signed an online petition calling for Tyson Fresh Meats near the Tri-Cities to be shut down to control an outbreak of the new coronavirus.

By Sunday, 89 people connected to the plant living in four counties and two states reported being infected with COVID-19.

The petition calls for the beef slaughter and packing operation in Wallula to close for at least 14 days to prevent cases from skyrocketing.

“Because of a lack of pressure from elected officials, Tyson continues to keep their Wallula plant running, exposing hundreds of other workers to the virus and endangering the neighborhoods and communities in which those workers live, shop and go to the doctor,” says the petition.

Tyson Foods closed its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, earlier this month when about two dozen workers tested positive for COVID-19. It diverted its livestock supply to other plants in the region.

Now officials there are calling on Tyson to shut down another Iowa processing plant because of a spike in COVID-19 cases in Black Hawk County.

In Washington state, the petition about the Wallula plant will be sent to Gov. Jay Inslee, Jay Wiesman, the Washington state Secretary of Health, and Noel White the chief executive of Tyson Foods.

It also is to be sent to the mayors of Walla Walla, Kennewick and Pasco.

As of Sunday 81 cases linked to the plant had been reported in Benton and Franklin counties, seven in Walla Walla County and one in Umatilla County, Ore.

“We’re working hard to protect our team members during this ever-changing situation, while also ensuring we continue fulfilling our critical role of helping feed people across the country,” said Gary Mickelson, spokesman for Tyson Foods, last week.

Petition comments

But several of those posting comments online at Change.org as they signed the petition didn’t think the company was doing enough to protect its 1,400 workers.

The Walla Walla County Emergency Management and Department of Community Health said on Friday that all workers were being required to wear masks and that the plant would supply masks to employees who do not have there own.

But one woman signing the petition, Felicia Richardson, said she has family working at the plant who she believes do not have adequate personal protective equipment.

“Many families have been exposed to this virus because the plant has stayed open, imperiling employees and their families,” said Pam Henager. “These hard-working people deserve better!”

Some workers have small babies and elderly parents who are put at risk by the outbreak at the plant, said Tasha Knopf.

“My parents’ health is much more important than risking their lives to go to work,” said Jenni Martinez.

The petition at bit.ly/WallulaPetition was started by Kennewick High graduate Ittai Orr, who has a doctorate from Yale University in American Studies.

He said he believes measures like checking worker temperatures and putting up workstation dividers, as Walla Walla County officials say are being done, are not enough.

“We know the virus spreads long before it causes a fever, and dividers will not stop the virus from spreading in congregation points like entryways, the cafeteria, and crammed carpools to and from the workers’ residences in nearby Tri-Cities and Walla Walla,” he posted with the petition.

The petition calls for the plant to be shut down for at least 14 days and for workers to be given information in their own languages on how to avoid spreading the virus.

The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health is requiring the plant to provide information about the new coronavirus and post signs that workers who speak more than 11 languages can understand by Monday.

Other food plants close

Closing the plant would be a “Band-Aid approach,” said Meghan DeBolt, director of the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health, in a news release on Friday.

“We would see a reduction in cases for a time period as isolation and quarantine measures, when followed properly do work,” she said. “However, this would be a short-term solution and we want to ensure Tyson, and other companies, put in place proper mitigation efforts so they can continue throughout the pandemic.”

However, county officials said they will continue to monitor the effectiveness of measures Tyson is taking to protect workers and could take further action, including closing the plant, until it is safe to reopen.

Elsewhere in the nation, people have died as the result of plant outbreaks, the petition said.

Colorado Public Radio reported that four workers at a JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley had died of complications of COVID-19 and 102 employees at the plant had tested positive for the new coronavirus.

State and county officials ordered the plant closed for 14 days last week.

The Associated Press reported that 518 employees at a Smithfield Foods plant in South Dakota had COVID-19, including one who died. The plant has been closed.

This story was originally published April 19, 2020 at 11:39 AM.