Trump meat
Although meat packing plants have infected thousands of their workers with coronavirus due to unsafe conditions, Trump has signed an executive order forcing the plants that have been closed to open and the ones already open but infected to stay open.
He wouldn't use the Defense Production Act to make ventilators for patients, or PPE for health care workers, or the ingredients for virus testing, but he has now used it for something even more essential ... meat.
Because it's better that American workers die than that Trump's corporate executive friends lose a buck or that he go without his daily cheeseburgers.
Heavens, how will life go on without meat? This must truly be the apocalypse! Oh wait ... I've somehow managed to survive as a vegetarian for more than 40 years. Never mind.
posted by crystal | 12:10 AM
2 Comments:
Crystal, you're right that this is wrong. I see it as a part of a larger picture in which the Trump administration cares little or nothing about worker rights. Especially these workers, who may not speak English, are low paid compared with other hazardous jobs, and don't want to make waves for fear of losing what little security they have. But it's starting to backfire.There was a walkout in one of the plants here yesterday.There have been walkouts other places too. These workers have unions. But they don't have much power. It's no coincidence that most of the plants are in right-to - work states (aka right to get fired at will states). Healthcare workers are also getting exploited, especially the lower level ones such as CNAs. The Democrats need to pound the heck out of labor issues. We're just about back where we started before any worker protections were put in place.
Yes, there was more last night on Rachel's show about the plant where they had a walkout. She said that in another state, the governor has said that those who won't come to work because of fears about the virus will not be able to get unemployment. Maybe consumers could help these workers too by boycotting that company's products until they create safe working conditions. But I agree that the Democrats in Congress have to stand up for the workers and for unions!
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