Dear John,

Trump issued an order last week demanding meat processing plants -- which are
hotbeds for coronavirus -- remain open.

Incredibly, his order did not require meatpacking companies to follow mandatory
safety guidance despite the fact that at least 5,000 meat processing plant
workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Trump’s order forces these plants to
stay open, jeopardizing worker safety -- and it’s all to benefit giant meat
companies like Tyson, Smithfield, JBS and Cargill.

We must demand these companies stop contributing to the public health threat.
And we need your help to ramp up the pressure on them to act.

Demand meat corporations like Tyson and Smithfield stop putting their workers
and communities at risk!
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Meat production is not an essential business. In fact, we should be shifting
away from industrial meat production anyway -- it’s contributing to diet-related
diseases that are making people more vulnerable to COVID-19. Plus, factory
farming is a disaster for the environment.

But it’s even more urgent to rein in this industry now. 90% of the COVID-19
cases in Black Hawk County, Iowa are linked to Tyson’s facility. At another
Tyson plant in Indiana, 890 employees have tested positive for COVID-19. If
meatpacking plants are forced open without making major improvements to worker
safety, we’ll witness many more cases like these.

Trump should never have forced meatpacking plants to stay open. But if they are
open, Tyson, Smithfield, JBS, and Cargill must provide testing to all workers
and mandate at least six feet of distance between workers, provide all workers
with access to handwashing stations, ensure workers are aware of their right to
stay home if they or a family member is ill, and ensure they are compensated and
guaranteed job security during their absence. Workers must be protected from
repercussions if they report violations, and slaughter line speeds must be
slowed down to ensure worker safety.

But these corporations won’t act unless they feel a groundswell of pressure from
the public. Can I count on you to act, John?

Take action now: Hold Tyson, Smithfield, JBS, and Cargill accountable for
protecting the health of their workers and communities!
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Trump and these meat corporations are willing to put workers’ lives on the line
to make sure that supermarket shelves are well stocked with bacon and
cheeseburgers. They are sending a loud and clear message that food chain workers
-- mostly people of color -- are expendable. Now it’s up to you to step up and
show this is not true.

While the country is at a standstill because of the pandemic, meat processing
plant workers are still expected to go to work each day. These workers are
entitled to safety and paid sick leave. Corporations like Tyson and Smithfield
must be held accountable to their employees. It’s up to people like you to
pressure them to act.

Send a message to meat corporation CEOs: Tell them to protect their workers and
public health!
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Standing with you,
Chloë Waterman,
Climate-friendly food campaign program manager,
Friends of the Earth

Contact Us:Friends of the Earth U.S.

Washington, D.C. | Berkeley, CA

1-877-843-8687

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