Monthly Archives: February 2021

On Jan. 27, Minnesota lawmakers and members of UFCW Locals 9 and 663 introduced new legislation to improve workplace safety at meatpacking and food processing plants. The Minnesota Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act, authored by Rep. Dan Wolgamott of St. Cloud, would provide paid leave to all meat and poultry processing workers to recuperate from an illness, injury or to care for an ill family member. The members of UFCW Local 9 and 663 work at meatpacking plants in Austin, Worthington and other communities throughout the state.

In 2007, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights which requires employers to provide meatpacking workers with information about their rights as workers and adequate safety equipment. The Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights was a positive measure; however, it has not proven adequate to protect the safety and rights of meatpacking workers before or during the time of COVID-19.

The Minnesota Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act creates a brand new “Workers’ Rights Coordinator” position housed within the Department of Labor and Industry dedicated to enforcement and compliance. This individual would be given the ability to investigate and prosecute violations of workers’ rights with the help of the attorney general, a district attorney, or any city or county attorney.

The proposed legislation also requires employers to provide personal protective equipment at no cost to employees; allow meat and poultry processing workers adequate break time to sanitize and wash hands; routinely clean and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces, workstations, and training rooms; and provide paid leave to all meat and poultry processing workers to recuperate from an illness, injury or to care for an ill family member. The proposed legislation also prohibits employers from discriminating or taking an adverse employment action against a worker, including the threat of reporting a worker’s current or suspected immigrations status, and requires employers to post all the rights, as well as training manuals, in the language of fluency for workers every year.

“When COVID-19 first hit Central Minnesota in the spring of 2020, I heard heartbreaking and horrifying stories from my constituents about the unhealthy working conditions at meat processing plants that were jeopardizing the health and financial well-being of their families,” said Rep. Wolgamott. “That’s why I’m introducing the Minnesota Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act, which provides comprehensive workplace health and safety protections, and ensures workers have access to the benefits and training needed to work safely during this pandemic and beyond.”

“Every day, me and my coworkers put our lives on the line when we go to work,” said Antonio Jimenez, a UFCW Local 663 member who works at JBS in Worthington. “I was here at the plant when the COVID-19 outbreak happened. No one ever wants that to happen again. This legislation is about safety, not just about me, but for all the meatpacking workers in the state.”

“Our local represents packing workers at Hormel and QPP in Austin,” said UFCW Local 9 President Rich Morgan. “I was involved in the 2007 Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights legislation. At the onset, Matt Utecht and I, along with our staff members, had conversations and a meeting with the Minnesota Department of Labor, and they used parts of the Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights to help formulate some of their guidelines for supplying personal protective equipment and other measures. But we realized more needed to be done to keep workers across the state safe since worker shortages are sometimes leading to short cuts, causing injuries and ergonomic issues. The Minnesota Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act is common sense legislation.”

“We represent meatpacking workers in Worthington and across the state in Minnesota,” said President of UFCW Local 663 Matthew Utecht. “Worker safety is the most important issue. It took a worldwide pandemic to pull back the curtain for the public to really see inside the packing plants and see the dangerous work that takes place in there. The workers have been long forgotten, not really given a second thought by the public until the pandemic struck and the media took notice.”

“These essential workers in Worthington, along with all meatpacking and poultry workers throughout the state, risk their health and expose their families to additional risk to be able to put food on the table for Minnesota families,” Utecht added. “The Minnesota Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act would provide comprehensive workplace health and safety protections and ensure workers have access to the benefits and training needed to work safely as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.”

Locals are opening union halls and union medical centers as COVID-19 vaccination sites as COVID-19 cases continue to climb.

UFCW Local 876 President Dan Pedersen recently announced that their union hall in Madison Heights, Mich., was named as a COVID-19 vaccination site.  UFCW Local 876 has been hosting vaccination appointments for surrounding communities as well as eligible members since Jan. 31. The first event resulted in well over 1,000 vaccinations. UFCW Local 876 members who work at Medstar Ambulance were on site to observe the vaccination process.

“I could not think of a better way to recognize the incredible hard work and sacrifices UFCW Local 876 members have made during this pandemic than to advocate and push for the ultimate protection of vaccination,” Pedersen said. “And with the union hall’s long-standing tradition of hosting and helping the community, it presented as the perfect opportunity to serve.”

Pedersen’s drive to get the vaccine to his members was fueled by the growing risks essential workers face in Michigan as the pandemic continues. UFCW Local 876 grocery workers interact with thousands of customers each day, making them more vulnerable than most any other vocations, and deserve to be recognized. Pedersen’s outreach effort peaked membership interest, resulting in hundreds of appointment inquiries.  

“It is everyone’s responsibility to share in the challenges that face our state, bringing our best ideas forward,” Pedersen said. “We seized this opportunity to protect our members and to provide for the health of our families and communities and are grateful to do so.” 

On Jan. 26, UFCW Local 1546 launched its own vaccination effort, beginning with vaccinating some of its members at its Union Medical Center in Chicago. About 4,000 of the local’s members, who work for the meatpacking industry, are covered by the Union Medical Center. UFCW Local 1546 coordinated with meatpacking employers, including the Chicago Midwest Meat Association, to provide members with time off to come to the Union Medical Center for their appointments, and is also working with the Human Resources representatives at meatpacking plants and using social media to reach members.

The local’s Union Medical Center is distributing about 60 vaccinations a day and plans to increase the number of vaccinations to 100 shots per day beginning Feb. 10. Vaccinations are currently open to members only, but will be open to members’ families once all members have received their second shots.

“UFCW Local 1546 is leading the way during this pandemic by offering a large portion of our members who work primarily in the meatpacking industry the opportunity to receive COVID-19 vaccinations directly through our Union Medical Center in Chicago,” said UFCW Local 1546 President Robert O’Toole. “Partnering with its doctors and nurses, we want to ensure that our essential workers serving on the frontlines, and eventually their family members too, do not have to put their own health at risk to ensure Americans have the food they need during this crisis.”  

Resources are available to help members receive local alerts about health and safety measures and other COVID-19 related news here.