Letter to the Editor N&O

May 6, 2020

FOOD PLANT WORKERS
When workers are classified as essential, the company that employs them must ensure their safety. Food processing plant employees work without masks, face shields, or physical barriers, which fosters the spread of coronavirus.

To secure our meat supply, we must improve worker safety. Plants should keep six feet between workers and provide PPE, plexiglass barriers and washing stations. Plants should also test and isolate infected workers. The costs of these measures must be borne by the companies.

President Trump issued an executive order for plants to re-open. CDC guidelines for worker safety are provided, but not required. We are asking that North Carolina lead the nation by insisting that worker health and safety come before profit — and that the lives of our workers be our state’s top priority.

Dr. Doyle Graham,

Tuesdays with Tillis member

Link here.