Meatpacking Turmoil Adds Strain to Trump's Struggling Economy
A strike at a Colorado JBS meatpacking plant is the latest challenge to the Trump administration's efforts to revive the U.S. economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meatpacking workers at a Colorado plant operated by JBS, one of the world's largest meat processing companies, have walked off the job in protest over working conditions and pandemic precautions, adding further strain to the Trump administration's efforts to revive the U.S. economy.
The strike, which began on Wednesday, is the latest disruption to the nation's food supply chain and a setback for President Trump, who has been eager to reopen the economy despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The outbreak has hit the meatpacking industry particularly hard, with numerous outbreaks at processing plants across the country.
The workers at the JBS plant in Greeley, Colorado are demanding better safety measures and hazard pay for their labor, which has been deemed essential during the pandemic. Many are concerned about the lack of social distancing and personal protective equipment in the facility.
"We're putting our lives on the line," said Carmelo Garcia, a worker who participated in the strike. "We have families we want to go home to."
The JBS plant employs around 3,000 workers and is a major employer in the region. Its closure threatens to further disrupt the nation's meat supply, which has already been strained by prior outbreaks at other meatpacking facilities.
The Trump administration has resisted calls to implement stricter worker safety standards for the industry, instead relying on voluntary guidance that critics say has been inadequate. The president has also invoked the Defense Production Act to keep meatpacking plants open, drawing criticism from labor advocates.
"This is yet another example of how the Trump administration's response to the pandemic has exacerbated challenges for essential workers and disrupted critical industries," said Debbie Berkowitz, a worker safety expert at the National Employment Law Project.
The JBS strike is the latest in a series of labor actions across the country as essential workers demand better protections and compensation amid the public health crisis. It underscores the difficult tradeoffs the Trump administration faces as it tries to balance economic recovery with worker safety.
Source: The New York Times
