Amid pandemic, poultry workers must be protected

Recently, there has been an outpouring of praise for essential workers on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 05, 2020

by Carmen Martinez

I, like many others, have watched communities come together to applaud medical staff leaving a shift at hospitals. Similarly, labor and immigrant rights organizations have praised the workers keeping grocery store shelves stocked for a nation where residents have been locked away in their homes.

One group of people on the front line who have not received such attention for their important work is poultry plant workers. The spotlight is only on them now due to President Trump signing an executive order to keep meat processing plants operating during the pandemic.

While safety guidelines for people working in the industry during the pandemic have been issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they are not binding, and the guidance itself is inadequate. If we are going to force workers into the processing plants, the best way we can show our appreciation to them is by ensuring that they are able to safely do their jobs – or take a break if they get sick. Last week, a CDC report noted that 20 meatpacking workers have died from the virus and almost 5,000 have been infected with the coronavirus.

As an outreach paralegal for the Southern Poverty Law Center, I have spoken to hundreds of people working in poultry plants in the Deep South. Long before COVID-19 became a safety issue, poultry workers frequently spent their workday in processing plants where hazardous conditions – and a lack of safety precautions – are frequently the norm.

COVID-19 has only made things worse.

Poultry workers have spoken out about the inadequate coronavirus safety measures. At the SPLC, we have heard reports of supervisors being provided personal protective equipment while processing line workers have had to go without. Also, employers have failed to put social distancing measures in place; people still work the processing line shoulder to shoulder with their coworkers.

For plants that have confirmed cases among their workforce, poultry workers are demanding that the plants be sanitized before they return to work. Other poultry workers are asking for paid leave, so that they may take time to care for themselves or their loved ones if they become ill – something they traditionally have not had in this industry.

In fact, we know that in the past some poultry plants have disciplined workers for taking a day for a routine medical appointment by placing a “point” on their attendance record, ultimately firing workers who accumulate a certain number of “points” under this harsh attendance system. Some poultry plants, rather than offer paid leave during the pandemic, have offered a modest bonus in exchange for working three months without missing a day.

In other words, instead of providing worktime flexibility and compensated time off, the processing plants are enacting policies that discourage taking time off and ultimately put workers and their families at risk.

To make matters worse, it was just last month that 15 poultry plants received waivers from the federal government to increase their processing line speed, putting output and profit over worker safety. The SPLC has long documented and reported on the injuries workers endure in poultry processing plants in the South, where line speeds can reach the maximum speed of 140 birds per minute. Since then, the poultry industry has lobbied the federal government for these waivers allowing them to increase line speeds up to 175 birds per minute.

Even without an employer turning up the line speeds or the threat of a pandemic, these workers have frequently endured a workplace where they face retaliation for taking leave for medical reasons; discrimination or harassment from management; and even a lack of bathroom breaks.

Overall, poultry work continues to be one of the most dangerous jobs available, which is why we’ve worked closely with the people who endure these conditions to reform this industry. And it’s one of the reasons why we’ve urged members of Congress to support workers with basic safety measures and time off if they become ill during this pandemic.

We must support poultry workers, not just because they help bring food to our tables, but because they are members of our communities who deserve to go home safely to their loved ones – even if there isn’t applause as they leave work.

MAJOR: US Pushes On With New Occupation In Syria – Military Convoy Enters Hasaka Countryside

https://www.fort-russ.com/2020/04/major-us-pushes-on-with-new-occupation-in-syria-military-convoy-enters-hasaka-countryside/

By Gh. A. Hassoun, Guest Author 

Fort Russ News, Last updated Apr 6, 2020

Hasaka, SANA –  The US occupation forces continued their violations of international laws and entered a new convoy of 35 trucks laden with military and logistic materials to its illegal bases and occupation points in the Syrian al-Jazira region coming from northern Iraq.

Civil sources said that 35 trucks entered the Syrian territories coming from Iraq through the illegal al-Walid crossing in al-Ya’rubia countryside, to the far northeastern of Hasaka, loaded with logistic and military materials, the majority of which went to the illegal base in Khrab al-Jeer airport in al-Malikiyah area.

The sources pointed out that the US occupation forces are reinforcing their illegal presence in the military airport of Khrab al-Jeer and other areas occupied by them through sending convoys to these areas periodically, loaded with logistic materials and military equipment.

During the past few months, the US occupation forces have entered thousands of trucks loaded with weapons, military and logistic equipment into Hasaka through illegal crossings to reinforce their presence in the Syrian al-Jazira region to steal oil, Syrian underground resources and major crops.

National Health Service front line staff ‘unprotected’

ENGLISH ~ ESPAÑOL ~ FRANÇAIS ~ TRADUZIONE ITALIANA NHS front line staff ‘unprotected’ Poor or missing virus gear leaves staff feeling like ‘cannon fodder’ Key healthcare workers said they were being sent “like lambs to the slaughter” yesterday and made further pleas for proper protective equipment for NHS staff. The government has been told to urgently adopt measures to “protect the lives of life-savers” during the coronavirus pandemic, after frequent reports circulated of workers being left without personal protective equipment (PPE). Health select committee chairman Jeremy Hunt told Sky News yesterday that the NHS has “moved heaven and earth” to get protective equipment to every hospital. But the Doctors’ Association chairman Dr Rinesh Parmar said front-line NHS staff dealing with the coronavirus outbreak are still not getting the protective equipment they need. He said doctors and nurses feel they are being treated as “cannon fodder” and appealed to the Prime Minister to ensure they are properly protected. “We have had doctors tell us they feel like lambs to the slaughter, that they feel like cannon fodder,” Mr Parmar said. “GPs tell us that they feel absolutely abandoned. “What our doctors are telling us is that although equipment is arriving, some of it is inadequate, some of it doesn’t meet the World Health Organisation guidance. “That really doesn't fill front-line healthcare staff with the confidence that they need.” Almost 4,000 NHS staff also appealed directly to Mr Johnson, pleading for adequate protective equipment to deal with the pandemic. In an open letter published in the Sunday Times, the medics called on the Prime Minister to “protect the lives of the life-savers” and resolve the “unacceptable” shortage of protective equipment. The group said many medical workers are “putting their lives on the line every day” by treating coronavirus patients without appropriate protection. They called on Mr Johnson to ensure an adequate supply of masks, safety glasses, gloves, aprons and protective suits. The letter, signed by 3,963 NHS staff, reads: “Front-line doctors have been telling us for weeks that they do not feel safe at work.” If urgent action is not taken, the doctors said, the public will be put at further risk and medical staff could lose their lives. Healthcare leaders have now promised the quantity of PPE for front-line staff will “get better over the next few days.” Jason Leitch, the national clinical director of healthcare quality and strategy, insisted there was sufficient supply of items, amid concerns that not all medical and care workers has been provided for. But he said the distribution of such items had been “challenging,” as the NHS tries to get protective equipment out to more people than normal. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said that the coronavirus pandemic had come “on us really fast.” Mr Leitch said: “I know there is enough supply, the distribution has been challenging, because we’re adding in new places, we’re adding in care homes, we’re adding in community pharmacies. “We’ve not had to do regular PPE transmission to those places before, so that is causing some individual challenges around the four UK countries.” However, consultant anaesthetist Dr Tom Dolphin has warned medics are “deeply apprehensive” about a surge in Covid-19 cases and whether intensive care units will cope. Dr Dolphin, who is also a spokesman for the British Medical Association, said there was not enough PPE for staff, despite assurances that it is on its way, and called for NHS staff to get tested for coronavirus. He said Britain had “advanced warning in the sense of what’s happened in Italy and China” and had been putting as many plans in place as possible. Dr Dolphin added that the NHS was “not starting from a great base” in terms of its bed numbers and after the funding shortfalls of recent years. “People are catching coronavirus from their patients, we already know they are – staff are going down with it around the country,” he said. “The government needs to get on top of that and sort out PPE.”

ESPAÑOL Personal de primera línea del NHS "desprotegido" Equipo de virus pobre o perdido hace que el personal se sienta como "carne de cañón" Trabajadores clave de la salud dijeron que ayer los enviaban "como corderos al matadero" e hicieron más pedidos de equipo de protección adecuado para el personal del NHS. Se le ha dicho al gobierno que adopte urgentemente medidas para "proteger las vidas de los salvavidas" durante la pandemia de coronavirus, luego de que circularan informes frecuentes de trabajadores que se quedaron sin equipo de protección personal (PPE). El presidente del comité de selección de salud Jeremy Hunt le dijo a Sky News ayer que el NHS ha "movido el cielo y la tierra" para llevar equipo de protección a cada hospital. Pero el presidente de la Asociación de Doctores, el Dr. Rinesh Parmar, dijo que el personal de primera línea del NHS que se ocupa del brote de coronavirus todavía no está recibiendo el equipo de protección que necesitan. Dijo que los médicos y las enfermeras sienten que están siendo tratados como "carne de cañón" y apeló al Primer Ministro para asegurarse de que estén debidamente protegidos. "Los médicos nos han dicho que se sienten como corderos para la matanza, que se sienten como carne de cañón", dijo Parmar. “Los médicos nos dicen que se sienten absolutamente abandonados. "Lo que nos dicen nuestros médicos es que, aunque el equipo está llegando, algunos de ellos son inadecuados, otros no cumplen con la orientación de la Organización Mundial de la Salud". "Eso realmente no llena al personal de atención médica de primera línea con la confianza que necesitan". Casi 4.000 empleados del NHS también apelaron directamente al Sr. Johnson, pidiéndole un equipo de protección adecuado para enfrentar la pandemia. En una carta abierta publicada en el Sunday Times, los médicos pidieron al Primer Ministro que "proteja la vida de los salvavidas" y resuelva la escasez "inaceptable" de equipos de protección. El grupo dijo que muchos trabajadores médicos están "arriesgando sus vidas todos los días" al tratar a pacientes con coronavirus sin la protección adecuada. Pidieron al Sr. Johnson que garantice un suministro adecuado de máscaras, gafas de seguridad, guantes, delantales y trajes de protección. La carta, firmada por 3.963 empleados del NHS, dice: "Los médicos de primera línea nos han estado diciendo durante semanas que no se sienten seguros en el trabajo". Si no se toman medidas urgentes, dijeron los médicos, el público correrá más riesgos y el personal médico podría perder la vida. Los líderes de atención médica ahora han prometido que la cantidad de EPP para el personal de primera línea "mejorará en los próximos días". Jason Leitch, el director clínico nacional de calidad y estrategia de atención médica, insistió en que había un suministro suficiente de artículos, en medio de la preocupación de que no se ha proporcionado a todos los trabajadores médicos y de atención. Pero dijo que la distribución de tales artículos había sido "desafiante", ya que el NHS intenta llevar el equipo de protección a más personas de lo normal. Hablando en el desayuno de la BBC, dijo que la pandemia de coronavirus había llegado "sobre nosotros muy rápido". El Sr. Leitch dijo: "Sé que hay suficiente suministro, la distribución ha sido un desafío, porque estamos agregando nuevos lugares, estamos agregando hogares de cuidado, estamos agregando farmacias comunitarias. "No hemos tenido que hacer una transmisión de EPP regular a esos lugares antes, por lo que eso está causando algunos desafíos individuales en los cuatro países del Reino Unido". Sin embargo, el anestesista consultor, el Dr. Tom Dolphin, advirtió que los médicos están "profundamente preocupados" por un aumento en los casos de Covid-19 y si las unidades de cuidados intensivos van a hacer frente. El Dr. Dolphin, quien también es portavoz de la Asociación Médica Británica, dijo que no había suficiente EPP para el personal, a pesar de las garantías de que está en camino, y pidió que el personal del NHS se haga una prueba de coronavirus. Dijo que Gran Bretaña había "avisado con anticipación en el sentido de lo que sucedió en Italia y China" y había puesto en marcha la mayor cantidad de planes posible. El Dr. Dolphin agregó que el NHS "no estaba comenzando desde una gran base" en términos de números de camas y después de los déficit de financiación de los últimos años. "La gente está contagiando el coronavirus de sus pacientes, ya lo sabemos, el personal lo está contagiando en todo el país", dijo. "El gobierno necesita estar al tanto de eso y resolver el EPP".

FRANÇAIS Le personnel de première ligne du NHS "non protégé" Un matériel antivirus médiocre ou manquant donne au personnel la sensation de 'chair à canon' Des agents de santé clés ont déclaré hier qu'ils étaient envoyés "comme des agneaux à l'abattoir" et ont fait plus de demandes d'équipement de protection approprié pour le personnel du NHS. Il a été demandé au gouvernement de prendre des mesures urgentes pour "protéger la vie des sauveteurs" pendant la pandémie de coronavirus, après de fréquentes informations faisant état de travailleurs qui n'avaient plus d'équipement de protection individuelle (EPI). Le président du comité de sélection des services de santé, Jeremy Hunt, a déclaré à Sky News hier que le NHS avait "déplacé le ciel et la terre" pour apporter des équipements de protection à chaque hôpital. Mais le président de l'Association des médecins, le Dr Rinesh Parmar, a déclaré que le personnel de première ligne du NHS chargé de l'épidémie de coronavirus ne recevait toujours pas l'équipement de protection dont il avait besoin. Il a déclaré que les médecins et les infirmières estimaient qu'ils étaient traités comme du "fourrage au canon" et a appelé le Premier ministre à s'assurer qu'ils sont correctement protégés. "Les médecins nous ont dit qu'ils se sentaient comme des agneaux pour la mise à mort, qu'ils se sentaient comme de la chair à canon", a déclaré Parmar. "Les médecins nous disent qu'ils se sentent absolument abandonnés. "Ce que nos médecins nous disent, c'est que, bien que l'équipement arrive, certains d'entre eux sont inadéquats, d'autres ne respectent pas les directives de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé." "Cela ne remplit pas vraiment le personnel de santé de première ligne de la confiance dont il a besoin." Près de 4 000 employés du NHS ont également fait directement appel à M. Johnson, lui demandant un équipement de protection adéquat pour faire face à la pandémie. Dans une lettre ouverte publiée dans le Sunday Times, les médecins ont demandé au Premier ministre de "protéger la vie des sauveteurs" et de résoudre la pénurie "inacceptable" d'équipements de protection. Le groupe a déclaré que de nombreux travailleurs médicaux "risquaient leur vie chaque jour" en traitant des patients atteints de coronavirus sans protection adéquate. Ils ont demandé à M. Johnson d'assurer un approvisionnement suffisant en masques, lunettes de sécurité, gants, tabliers et combinaisons de protection. La lettre, signée par 3 963 employés du NHS, dit: "Les médecins de première ligne nous disent depuis des semaines qu'ils ne se sentent pas en sécurité au travail." Si des mesures urgentes ne sont pas prises, selon les médecins, le public sera plus à risque et le personnel médical pourrait être tué. Les leaders de la santé ont désormais promis que la quantité d'EPI pour le personnel de première ligne "s'améliorerait dans les prochains jours". Jason Leitch, le directeur clinique national de la qualité et de la stratégie de soins de santé, a insisté sur le fait qu'il y avait un approvisionnement suffisant en articles, alors que tous les travailleurs médicaux et soignants n'étaient pas fournis. Mais il a dit que la distribution de tels articles avait été "difficile" car le NHS essaye d'apporter un équipement de protection à plus de personnes que la normale. S'exprimant lors du petit-déjeuner de la BBC, il a déclaré que la pandémie de coronavirus était arrivée "très rapidement". M. Leitch a déclaré: "Je sais que l'approvisionnement est suffisant, la distribution a été un défi, parce que nous ajoutons de nouveaux endroits, nous ajoutons des maisons de soins, nous ajoutons des pharmacies communautaires. "Nous n'avons jamais eu à diffuser une PPE régulière sur ces sites auparavant, ce qui pose des problèmes individuels dans les quatre pays du Royaume-Uni." Cependant, le Dr Tom Dolphin, anesthésiste consultant, a averti que les médecins étaient "profondément préoccupés" par une augmentation des cas de Covid-19 et par la question de savoir si les unités de soins intensifs allaient faire face. Le Dr Dolphin, qui est également porte-parole de la British Medical Association, a déclaré qu'il n'y avait pas assez d'EPI pour le personnel, malgré les assurances qu'il était en route, et a demandé que le personnel du NHS soit testé pour le coronavirus. Il a déclaré que la Grande-Bretagne avait "donné un préavis de ce qui s'était passé en Italie et en Chine" et avait mis en place autant de plans que possible. Le Dr Dolphin a ajouté que le NHS "ne partait pas d'une large base" en termes de nombre de lits et après des déficits de financement ces dernières années. "Les gens transmettent le coronavirus à leurs patients, nous le savons déjà, le personnel le diffuse dans tout le pays", a-t-il déclaré. "Le gouvernement doit en être conscient et résoudre le PPE." TRADUZIONE ITALIANA Frontline personale NHS "non protetto" L'hardware antivirus scadente o mancante fa sentire il personale come "cibo da cannone" I principali operatori sanitari hanno dichiarato ieri di essere stati inviati "come agnelli al macello" e hanno avanzato ulteriori richieste di dispositivi di protezione adeguati per il personale del SSN. Al governo è stato chiesto di adottare misure urgenti per "proteggere la vita dei soccorritori" durante la pandemia di coronavirus, dopo frequenti segnalazioni di lavoratori che non avevano più dispositivi di protezione individuale (DPI). Jeremy Hunt, presidente del comitato di selezione dei servizi sanitari, ha dichiarato ieri a Sky News che il servizio sanitario nazionale ha "spostato il cielo e la terra" per portare dispositivi di protezione in ogni ospedale. Ma il presidente dell'Associazione dei medici, Dr Rinesh Parmar, ha affermato che il personale del servizio sanitario nazionale responsabile dell'epidemia di coronavirus non stava ancora ottenendo l'equipaggiamento protettivo di cui aveva bisogno. Ha detto che i dottori e le infermiere credevano di essere trattati come "carne da cannone" e ha chiesto al Primo Ministro di assicurarsi che siano adeguatamente protetti. "I dottori ci hanno detto che si sentivano come agnelli per l'uccisione, che si sentivano come carne da cannone", ha detto Parmar. "I dottori ci dicono che si sentono assolutamente abbandonati. "Ciò che i nostri dottori ci dicono è che, sebbene le attrezzature arrivino, alcune di esse sono inadeguate, altre non seguono le direttive dell'Organizzazione mondiale della sanità." "In realtà non riempie gli operatori sanitari di prima linea della fiducia di cui hanno bisogno." Quasi 4.000 dipendenti dell'NHS hanno anche contattato direttamente il signor Johnson, chiedendo adeguati dispositivi di protezione per affrontare la pandemia. In una lettera aperta al Sunday Times, i medici hanno chiesto al Primo Ministro di "proteggere la vita dei soccorritori" e di risolvere la "inaccettabile" carenza di dispositivi di protezione. Il gruppo ha affermato che molti operatori sanitari "rischiano la vita ogni giorno" trattando i pazienti con coronavirus senza un'adeguata protezione. Hanno chiesto al signor Johnson di garantire una fornitura adeguata di maschere, occhiali di sicurezza, guanti, grembiuli e tute protettive. La lettera, firmata da 3.963 dipendenti del SSN, afferma: "I medici di base hanno dichiarato per settimane che non si sentono al sicuro sul lavoro". Se non vengono prese misure urgenti, dicono i medici, il pubblico sarà a maggior rischio e il personale medico potrebbe essere ucciso. I leader sanitari hanno ora promesso che la quantità di DPI per i lavoratori in prima linea "migliorerà nei prossimi giorni". Jason Leitch, direttore clinico nazionale della strategia di qualità e assistenza sanitaria, ha insistito sul fatto che vi fosse un'adeguata offerta di forniture, quando non tutti gli operatori sanitari e gli operatori sanitari erano disponibili. Ma ha detto che la distribuzione di tali articoli è stata "difficile" perché il SSN sta cercando di portare dispositivi di protezione a più persone del normale. Parlando alla colazione della BBC, ha detto che la pandemia di coronavirus è arrivata "molto rapidamente". Leitch ha detto: "So che c'è abbastanza offerta, la distribuzione è stata una sfida, perché stiamo aggiungendo nuovi posti, stiamo aggiungendo case di cura, stiamo aggiungendo farmacie comunitarie. "Non abbiamo mai avuto una trasmissione PEP regolare su questi siti prima, il che pone problemi individuali nei quattro paesi del Regno Unito". Tuttavia, il dott. Tom Dolphin, consulente anestesista, ha avvertito che i medici erano "profondamente preoccupati" per un aumento dei casi di Covid-19 e se le unità di terapia intensiva avrebbero potuto farcela. Il Dr. Dolphin, che è anche un portavoce della British Medical Association, ha dichiarato che non c'erano abbastanza DPI per il personale, nonostante le assicurazioni che fosse in arrivo, e ha chiesto che il personale dal SSN essere testato per il coronavirus. Ha affermato che la Gran Bretagna "ha comunicato in anticipo ciò che era accaduto in Italia e in Cina" e aveva messo in atto il maggior numero possibile di piani. Il dott. Dolphin ha aggiunto che il servizio sanitario nazionale "non è partito da una grande base" in termini di numero di posti letto e dopo carenze finanziarie negli ultimi anni. "Le persone stanno diffondendo il coronavirus ai loro pazienti, lo sappiamo già, il personale lo sta diffondendo in tutto il paese", ha detto. "Il governo deve esserne consapevole e risolvere il PPE". MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2020

Call your Senators! We need economic relief NOW!

Dear activists:

Things are moving quickly, and Congress is working on a spending bill to address the economic devastation caused by COVID-19. If we are going to weather this storm, we will need policies that work for everyone and not giveaways to big corporations. For years, politicians across the country – particularly in the South – have attacked the very programs we need to ensure that people are able to care for themselves and their families.

Please join us by emailing members of Congress to let them know that any relief package must:

• Provide immediate cash to help all families make ends meet and protect the economy. Cash assistance should be directed to those struggling the most and should not exclude immigrants, many of whom care for the sick and elderly, as well as ensure we have the food we need by delivering groceries and harvesting produce for our meals.


• Fill in gaps to ensure paid sick days and paid leave for all working families.


• Invest in childcare programs so that providers continue to receive pay and can cover their operational costs. Front line workers, including teachers, health care workers, and farmworkers, will need affordable, high-quality childcare.


• Provide protections for people so that they do not lose their housing.


• Provide funding for schools and families to get the educational supports they need during the pandemic – not give Education Secretary Betsy DeVos broad power to disregard federal requirements for schools.

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Congress must act now to protect the public health and our economic security. The relief package must focus on working families. Doing anything less will only further rig the system and worsen existing racial inequities. There should be no corporate giveaways or attempts to weaken crucial civil rights, education, or labor protections.

Tell your members of Congress to pass a COVID-19 relief package that works for everyone and invests in working families.

In solidarity,
SPLC Action Fund