WORTHINGTON, Minn. — The JBS Worthington pork plant is set to partially reopen on Wednesday.
The plant was shut down last month after an outbreak of COVID-19 infected around 500 of their employees.
Last week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to keep meat processing plants open during the pandemic and its impact on the nation's food supply.
The president used the Defense Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure to hopefully prevent chicken, pork and other meat shortages in supermarkets.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 663, Minnesota's largest meatpacking union, said in a letter to workers that safety measures are being put in place, which include frequent disinfecting, nightly deep cleans and enforced social distancing.
Following the news that JBS will reopen, UFCW Local 663 President Matt Utecht released the following statement:
“The best way to protect our food supply is to protect Minnesota’s meatpacking workers by having clear safety standards at JBS. While JBS was shut down, our union has been hard at work ensuring that reopening the plant involves a commitment to enhanced safety guidelines for a safe reopening of the Worthington plant. Workers will return to enforced social distancing in the plant and common areas, frequent and thorough disinfecting, and daily communication so they are kept updated."
