JBS, Tyson, Conagra, Smithfield Foods announce meat plant closures

Earlier this month, meat processing plants became the center of attention as plant after plant reported an infection and/or death related to COVID-19. Now, in an effort to halt the spread of the virus and ensure their workers’ safety, many meat manufacturers are closing their facilities. Smithfield Foods announced on April 12 that its Sioux Falls, S.D., facility would remain closed until further notice. The plant, which employs 3,700 people, is one of the largest pork processing facilities in the United States, representing 4%–5% of U.S. pork production.

On April 17, Conagra temporarily suspended its operations in Marshall, Mo., after 20 employees were diagnosed with the virus, The Marshall Democrat-News reported. Operations will be suspended until April 27.

“The health and safety of our employees is our top priority,” the company said in a statement. “In our Marshall facility, we have been using social distancing techniques, screening temperatures, and increased sanitization in common areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19. … When the facility reopens, we will continue to use our rigorous plant maintenance, sanitation processes, and other preventative measures to maintain a safe work environment.”

The company stated employees would be paid while the facility is temporarily closed, and they would continue to pay anyone who needs to be away from work due to an illness related to COVID-19.

On April 20, JBS USA announced the indefinite closure of the Worthington, Minn., pork production facility. The facility employs more than 2,000 team members and processes 20,000 hogs per day.

“We don’t make this decision lightly,” said Bob Krebs, president of JBS USA Pork, in a company press release. “We recognize JBS Worthington is critical to local hog producers, the U.S. food supply, and the many businesses that support the facility each and every day.”

The company has advised its Worthington team members to follow Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order until returning to work. The company will continue to pay its team members during the plant closure. It has also implemented several preventive measures at its other facilities to try to prevent further closures. Some of these measures include the following:

• Temperature testing all team members prior to entering facilities.
• Providing extra personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Promoting physical distancing by staggering starts, shifts, and breaks, and increasing spacing in cafeterias, break, and locker rooms.
• Increasing sanitation and disinfection efforts.
• Hiring dedicated staff whose only job is to continuously clean facilities.
• Removing vulnerable populations from facilities, offering full pay and benefits.
• Requiring sick team members to stay home from work.
• Waiving short-term disability waiting periods.
• Relaxing attendance policies so people don’t come to work sick.

On April 22, Tyson Fresh Meats announced plans to indefinitely suspend operations at its Waterloo, Iowa, pork plant. The facility, the company’s largest pork plant, has been running at reduced levels of production due to worker absenteeism and will stop production until further notice. The facility’s 2,800 team members will be invited to come to the plant later this week for COVID-19 testing.

“Protecting our team members is our top priority and the reason we’ve implemented numerous safety measures during this challenging and unprecedented time,” said Steve Stouffer, group president of Tyson Fresh Meats. “Despite our continued efforts to keep our people safe while fulfilling our critical role of feeding American families, the combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 cases, and community concerns has resulted in our decision to stop production.

“The closure has significant ramifications beyond our company since the plant is part of a larger supply chain that includes hundreds of independent farmers, truckers, distributors, and customers, including grocers,” continued Stouffer. “It means the loss of a vital market outlet for farmers and further contributes to the disruption of the nation’s pork supply.”

Affected Waterloo team members will continue to be compensated while the plant is closed. The timing of resumption of operations will depend on a variety of factors, including the outcome of team member testing for COVID-19.