PLAINWELL, MI — Allegan County meat packing plant JBS now has 86 employees with confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but a local health official says the worst appears to be behind them.
“We continue to monitor the epidemiological curve and note that the epi curve appears to be on the downside of the peak,” Lindsay Maunz, public information officer with the Allegan County Health Department, told MLive.
On April 20, there were 60 reported cases among employees at the plant.
Citing data from the Michigan Disease Surveillance System, Maunz said one of the 86 positive cases has resulted in a death.
JBS has multiple plants across the country. Four of its plants — including ones in Greeley, Colorado; Souderton, Pennsylvania, Worthington, Minnesota; and most recently Green Bay, Wisconsin — have ceased operations temporarily due to a high number of employees testing positive for COVID-19.
The plants in Greeley and Souderton have both reopened following multi-week closures, according to the company.
While the Plainwell plant was shut down April 16-17 due to a low number of employees showing up for work, operations have continued at the plant.
“We will endeavor to keep our facilities open to help feed the nation, but we will not operate a facility if we do not believe it is safe," Cameron Bruett, head of corporate affairs for JBS said in a statement issued to MLive Monday. “The health and safety of our team members remains our number one priority.”
Bruett said the company is mindful of the increasing number of facilities across the U.S. that have experienced decreased production or outright closure.
“The coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us, and we salute our team members who are working hard each day to continue to feed the country,” he said.
Due to union protections, employees who are not comfortable working are able to elect to stay at home, said John Cakmakci, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 951 that represents Michigan workers. Testing has also been made available to all employees and each employee goes through a daily health screening when they arrive at work, Cakmakci said.
On April 18, the union also secured an extra $4 per hour for workers at the plant through May 30. The temporary raise came in addition to the $600 bonus announced at the end of March.
On top of that, numerous protections have been put in place to help workers to feel more safe, Cakmakci said. Included are face masks attached to hard hats that are worn over masks, he said. As well, the company has also installed Plexiglas between people working the line that had previously been standing shoulder to shoulder.
“Decisions are made based on the safety of the workers and the public. If it wasn’t safe we would shut it down,” Cakmakci said. “We’re getting caught up with the testing and I think that’s the only reason you have seen 26 new cases in the last week, that we’re finally just getting caught up."
And while the union and the company continue to monitor the situation and are prepared to shut down if necessary, some would like to see that happen more immediately.
About a dozen protesters affiliated with PETA showed up at the plant on Monday, expressing that exact sentiment.
In addition to attempting to shed more light on the number of employees infected with the disease, animal rights activist Maria Leonardi said PETA would like to see the facility transition itself to become a producer of “humane, vegan meats.”
In a letter written to JBS that was shared with members of the media, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said the organization would assist JBS in costs associated with such a transition.
Two weeks ago, county health officials visited the JBS site to review social distancing, screening, and environmental hygiene practices, Maunz said. The company has been cooperative with the health department, she said.
The Plainwell plant, which employs 1,300 workers, was compliant with hygiene standards including hand sanitizing stations throughout the work space, sanitizing frequently touched surfaces, employees wearing masks and appropriate screening for symptoms and temperature upon arrival to the facility, Maunz said.
The Plainwell plant has been producing meat regionally for 95 years, according to the JBS website. According to the site it produces 5 Star Beef, 5 Star Reserve Beef, Clear River Farms Beef, Four Star Beef, Showcase Premium USA Beef, Showcase Premium Ground Beef and thinkpure Natural Ground Beef.
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