Washington, D.C. – This week, President Trump issued an executive order which would keep beef, pork and poultry plants open without added safety measures, in addition to forcing the reopening of plants which had previously closed due to worker safety issues.
United We Dream Action echoes the demands laid out by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union to protect all workers, including undcoumented workers, in the midst of COVID-19.
Cristina Jiménez, Executive Director and Co-Founder of United We Dream Action, said:
“Trump wants immigrant labor, but he doesn’t care if our people get sick or die. He deemed these workers essential, while treating them as disposable; subjecting them to unsafe working conditions. These workers, like so many other workers which include undocumented people, are keeping us fed, and providing us with needed supplies during this pandemic.
Trump has refused to listen to scientists, and as a result he’s responsible for over 60,000 COVID-19 deaths. He has completely failed in handling this pandemic, and millions of people have lost their jobs, are struggling without health care, and unable to provide for their families. Instead of focusing on relief efforts, the administration has announced racist and dangerous policies to rile up his base.
Trump continues to put the interests of large businesses ahead of human lives, all in a veiled attempt to make the American people think he has this under control. It is clear that he doesn’t. Trump’s ineptitude has cost lives, and voters will remember that come November. ”