Triumph Workers Impact (5-11-20)

Triumph Workers Impact (5-11-20)

Workers have been ordered back on the job to plants where covid-19 cases had spread.

And the union that represents them -- says they have been sent to the frontline unarmed and unprotected.

Kq2's madeline mcclain has more.

<<script:are pork and profits more important than plant workers?martin rosas, ufcw local dist.

2: "we represent some of the employees in the area, tyson and triumph foods and one of their biggest concerns is that these employers are following the proper protocols on social distancing, providing them with adequate ppe."martin rosas represents thousands of workers on the front line of missouri's meatpacking industry coronavirus outbreaks rosas, ufcw local dist.

2:"packing plants, you know, whether it's beef, pork, poultry, these people work in a very close proximity and that creates a problem.

Thousands of workers nationwide have tested positive for covid-19 since the outbreak started in march.51 workers have died.triumph foods - st.

Joseph largest employer -- is tied to at least 412 cases and one worker's death.francisco alonso vernal, triumph employee: "i'm not scared, i'm panicked.it's sad when i see a friend and they say they are sick and they go home and i don't know if i will see triumph employees who spoke to us feel they've been sent to war -- unarmed.martin rosas, ufcw local dist.

2: "the employers are doing what they can right now but they can do more than that."triumph officials have never spoke to us - despite repeated requests.

But through a video posted on the company's website ..

Triumph ceo mark campbell says workers are checked for fevers and the company has relaxed policies for attendance and paid time for workers who tested positive.mark campbell, ceo triumph foods: "my number one priority is the health and safety of our employees."

Federal agencies recommend a variety of protective measures protective equipment, social distancing, staggered breaks, relaxed attendance policies but none of it is required.

Martin rosas, ufcw local dist.

2:"the protocols that the cdc established, they are not mandatory so that is one of the biggest fears is that these employers do not feel compelled to comply with those."rosas says more needs to be done -- more testing, more space, more protective barriers and personal equipment rosas, ufcw local dist.

2:"we are still proposing that these employers slow the line of production, slow the production lines so that we provide people with adequate time to adjust their face mask to change their safety glasses...'the main reason there's no protections -- is the president's order to keep meat plants open during the pandemic.federal, state and local regulators now have little power to do anything.

Including the city of st.

Joseph.debra bradley, st.

Joseph health director: "they are considered essential employees, they can go back to work as long as they don't have symptoms at any point really as long as they are wearing masks and wearing protective equipment, which triumph has assured us that they will be.//we have to just trust that they are going to be doing what they are supposed to be doing."health department director debra bradley says it's not the role of local public health to inspect the plant can still investigate complaints.she notes -- no one has complained about working conditions at triumph or any other food plant.debra bradley, city of st.

Joseph health department: "so we have to believe them.

I can't imagine somebody, not being honest about something that, as this could impact their bottom line just as much as it can impact our community so i have no reason not to believe them."but for rosas the good faith of the company is not enough ufcw local dist.

2: "that's why we have been lobbying on behalf of these workers to institute, because we can't depend on the state or federal government to help these workers."// you just can't simply demand that these centers remain open and have a disregard for the well being of human beings in those plants."reporting in st.

Joseph, madeline mcclain, kq2 news.

A change.org petition asking triumph to be closed for a week for cleaning now has more than 1,850 signatures.as more businesses in northwest missouri begin to open up -- we want to here from you.

Whether it's what your employer has done to keep you safe -- what you are concerned about as a worker -- reach out and let us know... some of