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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLawsuit: Tyson managers bet money on how many workers would contract COVID-19
A wrongful death lawsuit tied to COVID-19 infections in a Waterloo pork processing plant alleges that during the initial stages the pandemic, Tyson Foods ordered employees to report for work while supervisors privately wagered money on the number of workers who would be sickened by the deadly virus.
The lawsuit was recently amended and includes a number of new allegations against the company and plant officials. Among them:
John Casey, an upper-level manager at the plant, is alleged to have explicitly directed supervisors to ignore symptoms of COVID-19, telling them to show up to work even if they were exhibiting symptoms of the virus. Casey reportedly referred to COVID-19 as the glorified flu and told workers not to worry about it because its not a big deal and everyone is going to get it. On one occasion, Casey intercepted a sick supervisor who was on his way to be tested and ordered him to get back to work, saying, We all have symptoms you have a job to do. After one employee vomited on the production line, managers reportedly allowed the man to continue working and then return to work the next day.
In late March or early April, as the pandemic spread across Iowa, managers at the Waterloo plant reportedly began avoiding the plant floor for fear of contracting the virus. As a result, they increasingly delegated managerial authority and responsibilities to low-level supervisors who had no management training or experience. The supervisors did not require truck drivers and subcontractors to have their temperatures checked before entering the plant.
In March and April, plant supervisors falsely denied the existence of any confirmed cases or positive tests for COVID-19 within the plant, and allegedly told workers they had a responsibility to keep working to ensure Americans didnt go hungry as the result of a shutdown.
Tyson paid out $500 thank you bonuses to employees who turned up for every scheduled shift for three months a policy decision that allegedly incentivized sick workers to continue reporting for work.
Tyson executives allegedly lobbied Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for COVID-19 liability protections that would shield the company from lawsuits, and successfully lobbied the governor to declare that only the state government, not local governments, had the authority to close businesses in response to the pandemic.
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2020/11/18/lawsuit-tyson-managers-bet-money-on-how-many-workers-would-contract-covid-19/
magicarpet
(14,143 posts)... Fascist,... oops I mean GRAND ?
DBoon
(22,350 posts)I_UndergroundPanther
(12,462 posts)Should be in jail.
If I had my way they'd get the death penalty.
To take out bets and harm people proves to me
They are not human beings. And should not be treated as such. Another reason I despise the right wing,and the rich owner class. And corporate culture.
Enough of the corrupt abusive corporate fiefdoms.
Initech
(100,054 posts)Asking for a friend...
Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,582 posts)Raine
(30,540 posts)was I hope karma bites them hard in the ass!
econron
(152 posts)How is this not National News?!
Need a statewide walkout at all the facilities.
Aren't these the same f&ckers that don't want immigrants ... oh yeah thus the pool and massive 500 "bonus"
SharonAnn
(13,772 posts)Hekate
(90,616 posts)Tommymac
(7,263 posts)It is NOT all about the Stockholders and profits.
Friedman was a monster. And he was wrong.
Human Rights trump profits every single goddamn time. Anyone who thinks differently needs to be schooled. I'll leave it at that.
iluvtennis
(19,843 posts)UpInArms
(51,280 posts)eom
econron
(152 posts)benld74
(9,904 posts)While Tyson was doing ALL this Id talk to my older sister warning her whats going on where her son lives.
Argued its not as bad as all they say. Son says no mask needed, colleges/schools open, all fine.
Told her its there and growing, soon itll be really bad.
Iowa mandated masks recently, colleges/schools online now, theyre working from home.
Oh, not coming for 11-26 either. THAT she understood. I gently reminded her what I told her way back when.
She recalled,,,,,
liberalmuse
(18,672 posts)This is absolutely vile. I don't know what else to say except I used to think Americans would never do what the Germans did during WWII. Turns out there are millions of Americans who are itching to do much, much worse.
MomInTheCrowd
(268 posts)Mopar151
(9,977 posts)For 6 months, under guard. Or do hard time. Watch how many take jail, instead!
LudwigPastorius
(9,126 posts)The workers at that plant should be allowed to put those supervisors and managers on the processing line and do to them what they do to the pigs.
BainsBane
(53,026 posts)They deserve prison, not just a civil lawsuit. May they rot in hell.
ancianita
(36,009 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,168 posts)not fooled
(5,801 posts)she should cite this monstrous conduct. Mitch wants to immunize corporations from consequences of forcing the serfs to work in unsafe Corona conditions.
crickets
(25,959 posts)marble falls
(57,063 posts)democrank
(11,092 posts)Hermit-The-Prog
(33,309 posts)AwakeAtLast
(14,124 posts)Windy City Charlie
(1,178 posts)So that's why they lobbied to be shielded from lawsuits. They knew they would most likely get hit with one.
Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)cynical_idealist
(359 posts)And feed them to the (R) senators