LULAC Wants Food, Agricultural And Meat Packing Workers To Get Vaccine First

Nation’s Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Says Kansas Governor is Right in Prioritizing Essential Workers

Washington, DC - Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President on Saturday issued the following statement:

“LULAC supports Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly who said meatpacking plant workers and grocery store employees are essential workers putting them in line for coronavirus vaccines. Tens of thousands of essential workers got up before dawn today and went back as they do every day, into the agricultural fields and meatpacking plants across our country to provide the food that feeds us. LULAC is calling for prioritization of distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to food and agricultural workers alongside our nation’s doctors and nurses plus first responders. Food and agricultural workers are heroes. They have been on the front lines of the pandemic, ensuring American’s have access to safe, nutritious, affordable food, and they should be at the front of the line for the vaccine as well.

Latinos are the largest minority community working in the agricultural industry and meat processing industry. Latinos are farmers and ranchers raising cattle and poultry delivered to dinner tables of millions of families each and every day. Latinos labor on the agricultural fields planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables. Latinos work the food lines in meat processing plants to feed our families. Latinos stock the grocery shelves across the country. Latinos are preparing the meals at restaurants and delivering food to millions of families during this pandemic. Americans depend on the hard work and contributions of Latinos in the food industry.

Latinos have also been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 due to worsening historical inequities. The hospitalization rate related to COVID-19 is 217.2 per 100,000, according to the latest CDC data. Hospitalization rates for Latinos are 4.2 times the rate among whites, and COVID-19 deaths among Latinos are at an all-time high of 32.4% when weighted for population distribution. In fact, during a record-breaking week of reported COVID-19 cases nationwide, Latinos fared the worst. The Latino community continues to experience the harshest outcomes, including economic impact, social upheaval, and, most significantly, mortality rates.

The agricultural and meatpacking workers are on the frontline delivering vital services and deserve to be protected as soon as possible to keep our nation safe and nourished. LULAC is the first community-based Latino organization that has gone into the meatpacking plants to see firsthand the conditions in some of the most challenging workplaces in our country. We have met face-to-face with the workers, met with the unions, and talked with CEO’s of the largest meat companies in the United States discussing the steps they are taking daily to make their facilities safer. The virus is an elusive, fast-moving threat facing the agricultural and meatpacking industry; owners, operators and workers alike. LULAC is committed to keep fighting for more PPE, safer line speeds, free onsite testing, paid time off for workers who become sick and paid leave for workers who are at risk during this pandemic. Equally important now is ensuring that essential workers are part of the first wave of individuals who are able to access the vaccine. As COVID-19 spreads, the number of cases at many of these agricultural and meat processing plants will increase. We must act quickly and decisively if we are to stop the rate of COVID-19 infections and save lives.

Our priority from day one has been and will continue to be the workers. This is our mission because we know essential workers are not only keeping so many of us nourished, but also safe at home and keeping the American economy running. Nobody can survive without food and it’s important we understand that a disruption to the food supply has a grave impact on all of us.”

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About LULAC

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org. 

" Covid -Chambeando" por Radio Migrante 04/9/20

Essential Workers in Meat Packing Giant

LULAC National President Meets With UFCW And JBS Meatpacking Company On Fact Finding Mission

Leader of Nation’s Oldest & Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Holds Talks With Labor and CEO, Then Visits Plant in Greeley, Colorado

Washington, DC – Domingo Garcia, LULAC National President held face-to-face talks with Andre Nogueira, JBS USA Food Company Chief Executive at the company’s world headquarters in Greeley, Colorado. Wednesday evening, he first met with Kim Cordova, President of UFCW Local 7 whose union represents workers at the JBS facility in Greeley. On Thursday, Garcia conducted a firsthand, on-site tour of the facility to observe for himself conditions for the more than 3,000 workers at the plant, the majority of whom are Latino.

“Our discussions with Mr. Nogueira and his executive staff were frank and honest, focusing on making sure that JBS employees are working in the safest conditions possible while facing a continuing invisible enemy, the coronavirus and I am encouraged by what I have seen and heard,” said Garcia. “Several weeks ago, LULAC presented JBS with a very specific list of demands in changes that workers told us they needed including being provided more personal protection equipment (PPE), installing partitions in the production areas and slowing down the line to reduce the risks within an industry hard hit by COVID-19. They also wanted more testing and assurances that employees who could not work because they were sick would not lose their pay or be fired. I can tell you from what I have seen today that JBS met each of the demands, so progress has been made in what is still very much an on-going process,” added Garcia.

LULAC requested and received unrestricted access to the JBS plant without preconditions while agreeing to follow the company’s safe distancing policies. Garcia questioned Nogueira about concerns voiced by both some employees and the union that the company was placing profit above workers’ safety. Nogueira informed LULAC that the company’s production quotas and key performance indicators are suspended at present with the sole focus being worker safety. Also, that design changes are being made in real time at all JBS sites to deal with an elusive virus as more is learned about its behavior.

“Our number one goal is the protection of the essential frontline food processing workers and protecting the quality of America’s food supply.” said Garcia. “JBS has agreed to give LULAC access to any of its plants across the United States for our inspection and the company committed to continue this work in progress with us because there is still more that can be done. LULAC is here to facilitate dialogue that will lead to solutions to protect Jose y Maria. My takeaway today from this inspection is how hard everyone is working here to feed our country. From the men and women on the line to supervisors and management; these are important essential workers and we want both the industry and labor to come together to fight this common enemy. It’s in everyone's interest to do this,” he concluded.

While much progress has been made, screening, testing, contact tracing, PPE, social distancing, and continued education must become the new normal in the food processing industry. Also, employees must continue to be guaranteed hazard pay, full paid sick leave, free and easy access to COVID-19 testing and treatment, and temporary protective status with pathway to citizens for all essential workers.

LULAC will continue to monitor and track the number of sick employees and COVID-19 related fatalities across the industry to ensure worker safety remains the top priority for these companies and we will hold them accountable to ensure they maintain and continue to enhance their efforts to combat this global pandemic.

LULAC Defends Essential Workers - Recorded Town Hall

LULAC, The League of Latin American Citizens, held a Town Hall this morning with Vice President Biden and several key congresspeople on Protecting Essential Workers including a focus on meat packing and farm labor. 

Speakers.  Congresspersons able to make a difference.

Domingo Garcia, National President, LULAC
Sindy Benavides, CEO, LULAC
Joe Biden, Vice President
Bennie Thompson, Homeland Security Committee Chair (MS-2)
Zoe Lofgren, Judiciary Subcommittee Chair (CA-19)
Joaquin Castro, CHC Chair (TX-20)
Filemon Vela. Agriculture Subcommittee Chair (TX-34)

Here is the recording.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=742013979876894&ref=watch_permalink

Biden made a strong case for defending workers in the meatpacking plants. He described meat packing and chicken packing plants accurately and their lack of safety precautions,    Unfortunately, most of the plants are non union. If we had a pro union president this would not be happening – such as FDR in the 1930’s. 

 And, the Trump Administration is using OSHA to not enforce workplace safety rules.   This is not an accident. See the history of union busting in meat packing,. 

There was extensive discussion of undocumented workers in these plants and their exploitation.  Congressman Vela and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren were clear and engaged in seeking to extend worker protection to these workers and to reign in ICE.  One effort was to urge that all these workers receive TPS during the crisis.  They also recognized the need for permanent immigration reform to protect these workers and their families, 

There was significant discussion of how work place safety could be improved, including by facilitation unionization.

A number of speakers were family members of workers in these plants, several with Covid 19 cases.  I hope to find the recording a post a link to it.

Joaquin Castro, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus was particularly effective in arguing for multiple reforms to protect workers during the pandemic and in the future.  All agreed that testing and tracking was needed, and few of the plants provide testing and safe work places- even while they are required to stay open and subsidized by recent legislation, 

Congressman Castro particularly urged all community  activists to demand change now, to not wait until the fall elections,  Yes, the elections are important, but the crisis is now. 

LULAC is a moderate to conservative Civil Rights Organization.  Like the NAACP, and the National Urban League, it accepts donations from corporations,.  For example, they have recently accepted many donations from Tyson foods,