Tyson meatpacking workers continue to suffer high rates of COVID-19 infections – with heartbreaking physical and economic consequences for their families and communities. In spite of the company’s public statements about workers’ safety, too many Tyson workers report not being paid for COVID-19 related leave. Lack of access to paid leave can throw workers into financial crisis and creates a perverse incentive to keep working while sick – potentially exposing more workers and community members to life-threatening illness.

Making sure sick or exposed workers can stay home is the best way to save lives and prevent more outbreaks during a pandemic, especially for essential workers in our food system.

We call on Tyson to immediately pay all employees who have missed work due to COVID-19 infection, exposure, symptoms, quarantine, or COVID-19 related child and family medical care – and to maintain COVID-19 related paid leave throughout the pandemic.

The Iowa Council for Worker Safety continues to hear alarming stories from Tyson workers across Iowa. Just some of these stories include:

• being pressured to keep working while sick, or to return to work before recovered.

• struggling to survive without pay for weeks while sick or in quarantine.

• missing out on health care coverage or short-term disability pay because Tyson fails to offer information, language interpretation, or assistance in navigating complicated application systems for these benefits.

• being denied paid leave when workers test positive a second time

• facing threats of retaliation or termination if they speak up about their experiences or health and safety concerns.

"We’re between a rock and hard place. You either go to work or you don’t have any money," says one Tyson employee.

Tyson claims health and safety is their “top priority”—yet they’ve refused multiple requests from worker and community groups to share copies of their detailed Covid-19 health and safety plans or the policies they use to ensure sick workers can stay home with pay.

Tyson employees need help from the public in calling out these injustices and stopping a serious public health crisis from getting even worse.

If health and safety is truly their “top priority,” Tyson must pay all workers and guarantee paid sick leave now!