Tyson Fresh Meats to Resume Waterloo, Iowa Operations
May 05 2020 - 10:34PM
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson
Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) today announced it will resume limited
production at its Waterloo, Iowa facility on Thursday, May 7. Team
members have been invited to tour the facility Wednesday to view
the enhanced safety precautions and protective social distancing
measures installed throughout the plant.
The reopening of the facility follows a tour of the plant by
Black Hawk County health officials, Waterloo Mayor Quinten Hart,
Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson, UFCW Local 431 President
Bob Waters and other local business leaders and a subsequent joint
company and community leader review of the company’s protocol to
safely resume operations. The pork processing facility temporarily
suspended harvest operations on April 22 to test its team members
for COVID-19.
“Our top priority is the health and safety of our team members,
their loved ones and our communities,” said Tom Hart, plant manager
of Tyson’s Waterloo facility. “We appreciate the collaboration and
support of Black Hawk County health officials, Mayor Hart and
Sheriff Thompson as we tested team members and took proactive steps
to complement our existing prevention efforts, working with
epidemiologists and other experts.”
Tyson has partnered with Matrix Medical Network, a leading
medical clinical services company, to establish an onsite clinic to
provide team members with enhanced care. This includes diagnostic
(PCR) testing for COVID-19, daily clinical screenings, access to
nurse practitioners and employee education and support for personal
health goals or concerns.
“I had the chance to tour the Tyson plant in Waterloo and see
the additional steps taken to keep the workers safe during these
trying and unknown times,” said Bob Waters, president, UFCW Local
431. “Tyson has gone above and beyond to keep their employees safe
and I support the reopening of the facility. This pork plant and
all of the measures they’ve put in place are an example of how to
effectively set up a safe work environment for the employees.”
“It is my sincere hope that the Tyson Waterloo operations
can once again find its footing and become a better, even more
productive part of our Black Hawk County business community,” said
Sheriff Tony Thompson. “The amount of obvious energy put into
addressing this plant’s workspace and personal protective
deficiencies became clear during our recent visit and I look
forward to continuing to monitor and work with local plant
leadership to ensure a cooperative effort moving forward.”
“People are our number one asset and first priority,” said Mayor
Hart. “I am pleased that Tyson is working on protecting its
employees and partnering with the community leaders for the good of
all.”
All team members returning to work have been tested for
COVID-19, and any team member who has tested positive will remain
on sick leave until released by health officials to return to work.
Team members who have not been tested will be unable to return to
work and all new hires will be tested prior to starting work.
While the plant was idle, the company performed an additional
deep clean and sanitization of the entire facility. Returning team
members will see the changes made to promote social distancing and
protective measures that meet or exceed CDC and OSHA guidance.
These include:
- Wellness health screening of all team members each time they
arrive at the facility, checking for symptoms such as coughing or
shortness of breath in addition to continuing use of the infrared
thermometers to check temperature.
- The supply of protective facial coverings to every team member
and requiring they are worn.
- The required use of face shields for team members where
workstation barriers cannot physically be implemented.
- Additional dedicated social distance monitors stationed
throughout the facility during all shifts to help ensure team
members adhere to safety protocols and social distancing
requirements.
The company has doubled its “thank you” bonus for its
frontline workers. Team members who cannot come to work because of
illness or childcare issues related to COVID-19 will continue to
qualify. Tyson Foods has also increased short-term disability
coverage to 90% of normal pay until June 30 to encourage team
members to stay home when they are sick.
About Tyson FoodsTyson Foods, Inc. is one of
the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in
protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three
generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio
of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire
Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp® and State
Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more
sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise
the world’s expectations for how much good food can do.
Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 141,000 team
members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate
with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers,
communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals,
land and environment entrusted to it.
Visit TYSONFOODS.COM.
Media Contacts: Liz Croston, 712-259-3079,
liz.croston@tyson.com
Category: IR
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