The Smithfield pork-processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a huge eight-story meat processing plant that employs 3,700 workers. The plant is considered “essential work” during this time because they produce food, but this should not give the company license to endanger the workers and the public. In the last weeks, coronavirus infections from Smithfield’s plant have accounted for 55% of all coronavirus cases in the state. Workers and relatives have tried to raise the alarm but the plant was not closed for cleaning until April 9. Now, they are talking about reopening it. Why is Smithfield, and the Trump administration along with it, willing to risk our lives and the lives of the workers there? One simple word – profit.
Feature image credit: Dakota News Now
