On March 5, the UFCW announced new partnerships with state leaders and industry employers to expand COVID-19 vaccine access to more than 12,000 essential food workers.
As part of the UFCW’s partnerships with state and industry leaders, COVID-19 vaccine access will be expanded to workers at the following plants in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas:
- Smithfield Pork Plant – Denison, Iowa
- National Beef Plant – Dodge City, Kan.
- JBS Beef Plant – Grand Island, Neb.
- JBS Beef Plant – Greeley, Colo.
- Cargill Beef Plant – Friona, Texas
- Smithfield Pork Plant – Mason City, Iowa
- Tyson Pork Plant – Perry, Iowa
- Cargill Beef Plant – Schuyler, Neb.
- Tyson Pork Plant – Waterloo, Iowa
The UFCW recently confirmed that more than 30 states are failing to prioritize these workers for vaccine access, despite the ongoing COVID-19 risks. The UFCW has estimated that among our members, more than 137 meatpacking workers have died from COVID-19 and over 21,900 meatpacking workers have been infected or exposed to the virus.
“As the pandemic continues, America’s essential food workers continue to face daily COVID risks on the frontlines in meatpacking and food processing plants across the country,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement. “The UFCW’s new partnerships with state and industry leaders will expand vaccine access to more than 12,000 essential food workers in these plants, helping to prevent the deadly outbreaks we saw last year and keep our food supply secure as this crisis continues.”
“The brutal truth is that even as these essential workers continue to get sick and die from this virus, most states are failing to prioritize them for vaccine access,” Perrone added. “We are grateful to our partners in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas for stepping up to join us in this week’s vaccine rollout and urge governors and CEOs in every state to act swiftly to ensure every essential food worker in America has access to the vaccine. Lives are on the line and we cannot wait any longer.”