Tyson plant near Tri-Cities reopens after testing shows 12% of workers infected

Tyson Fresh Meats near the Tri-Cities reopened Tuesday with limited production of beef, after closing 12 days ago to test workers for the new coronavirus, the company announced.

Nearly 12 percent of workers tested had COVID-19, not counting 38 pending test results.

There have been 147 positive test results out of 1,239 returned so far, plus at least 104 workers diagnosed with COVID-19 before testing began.

Three workers who live in the Tri-Cities have died of complications of COVID-19, according to the Benton Franklin Health District on Tuesday.

The Wallula plant is in Walla Walla County but most of the workers live in the Tri-Cities area.

Benton Franklin Health District continues to work to verify test results and which county people live in, but says at least 238 workers at the plant who live in the two counties have or have had COVID-19.

Friends of Tyson Workers, a group formed after the outbreak at the plant began in March, blasted Tyson’s decision to reopen.

“Would you feel safe sending your own loved ones there?” said the group in a statement. “Until the answer to that question is yes, there’s still more work to do.”

Among the group’s concerns is that COVID-19 patients do not receive sick pay, it said.

“Sick employees only have access to short-term disability insurance that they are not always informed about,” the group said. “Even when they have been approved for it, some workers still are not getting paid.”

The insurance frequently runs out before workers stop being contagious, it said.

It also criticized Tyson’s incentive pay program based on attendance, which was announced in early April.

The group accused Tyson of encouraging workers to go to work while sick in violation of workplace safety laws.

However, Tyson said it has doubled the $500 bonus offered based on attendance and has moved the first $500 bonus payment to early May with a second $500 bonus to be paid in July.

“Team members who cannot come to work due to illness or childcare will continue to qualify, but bonus eligibility will depend on attendance,” said the company.

It also said that it has increased short-term disability coverage to 90 percent of normal pay until June 30 to encourage workers to say home when they are ill.

Those with negative results — 1,092 workers so far — are allowed to return to work.

Those who tested positive may return to work after seven days without symptoms. In addition to Tyson workers, 19 U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspectors working at the Wallula Tyson plant also have been tested.

Tyson deep cleaning

Tyson said in a joint statement with the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health that while the plant was idle a deep cleaning and sanitization of the plant was done.

The workers who reported to the plant Tuesday will start their shifts with a facility tour to see changes made to create physical distance among employees and otherwise protect them.

More protective measures have been added to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for meat plants, Tyson and Walla Walla County officials said.

More social distance monitors are stationed throughout the plant during all shifts to make sure workers follow safety protocols and maintain distance from other workers.

Face masks are provided and required for all workers. Face shields are required for workers if plexiglass shields or other barriers cannot be installed to separate their work station from other workers.

Infrared thermometers are being used to check temperatures before workers enter the plant. Workers are screened for symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath.

Tyson also has brought in Matrix Medical Network to set up a mobile health clinic at the plant.

It will provide testing for COVID-19, daily clinical screenings, access to nurse practitioners, and support for personal health goals and concerns. It also is helping with physical changes in the plant to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus and is providing employee education.

“Information is the best tool to fight COVID-19,” Tyson Foods said. “We’re focused on further education our team members about CDC guidance to prevent spreading the virus.”

Tyson Foods said it is providing education in all languages spoken by its diverse workforce.

The Walla Walla County Department of Community Health and the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries both are requiring that information be provided in the languages workers understand best. More than 11 languages are spoken at the plant, including Spanish, Arabic, Burmese and Karen, a language spoken in Myanmar.

In the joint statement with Tyson, Meghan DeBolt, the director of Walla Walla County Department of Community Health, said Tyson was taking protective measures seriously and “putting the safety and welfare of their employees first.”

Worker safety

Friends of Tyson Workers says Washington state and Walla Walla County need to hold Tyson accountable or workers will continue to get sick and more will die.

Sick pay should be required as it is in Calfornia, and attendance bonuses should be replaced with hazard pay and financial support to sick workers, it said.

It accuses Tyson of lobbying to get the federal government to relieve them of liability for exposing workers to COVID-19.

“Tyson’s negligence allowed an outbreak to happen that has already caused unnecessary death,” the group said. “If a person recklessly endangers others they are held criminally liable. Tyson should be held liable too.”

Workers who were diagnosed with COVID-19 before testing began at the plant April 24 lived mostly in Benton and Franklin counties, but workers living in Walla Walla County and Umatilla County, Ore., also were diagnosed.

Workers who tested positive in late April were sent home to self-isolate until test results were received, said health officials. Tyson agreed to pay workers as they waited for results.

Public health officials in Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties are determining the close contacts of workers who tested positive and also could have been exposed to the new coronavirus.

This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 11:22 AM.