Union wants JBS to do more to protect Louisville workers from COVID-19

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The union representing JBS wants to see more safety precautions to protect employees from COVID-19.

Several employees at JBS, a meat packing company on Story Avenue, are concerned about their health.

United Food Commercial Workers 227 said it's been in discussions with Gov. Andy Beshear's office. The union wants the plant employees to be classified as first responders so they can get access to PPE's like masks when they become available. Caitlin Blair, with the union, said the employees are frontline workers who are making sure the food supply remains safe to purchase. The union also wants the workers to have access to testing.

"Some of the things we're discussing is like plexiglass put up between individual work stations, so we're protecting workers as they are working on the line," Blair said. "We're in discussions to reduce line speeds so they can better social distance."

On Thursday, JBS released a statement that several employees nationwide have tested positive for the coronavirus, and they're working on "preventative measures," which are listed below:

Increasing sanitation and disinfection efforts, including whole facility deep-cleaning every day
Promoting physical distancing by staggering starts, shifts and breaks, and increasing spacing in cafeterias, break and locker rooms
Dedicating staff to continuously clean facilities
Temperature testing all team members prior to entering our facilities, including the use of hands-free thermometers and thermal imaging testing technology
Providing extra personal protective equipment (PPE), including protective masks
Removing vulnerable populations from our facilities, offering full pay and benefits
Requiring sick team members to stay home from work
Waiving short-term disability waiting periods
Relaxing attendance policies so people don’t come to work sick
Providing free 100% preventative care to all team members
Offering free LiveHealth Online services that allow for virtual doctor visits at no cost

Blair also said UFCW 227 wants to see if the employees can get hero status where they can get the extra $2 an hour. She said employees were told about potential bonuses later, but she said they need the money now.

The union said it's glad JBS is now implementing infrared technology to check employee's temperatures instead of the ones that touch people's foreheads which allows better social distancing.