ONLY 10 DAYS INTO APRIL. REENA ROY ABC NEWS NEW YORK. DOZENS OF WORKERS FROM THE TYSON MEAT PACKAGING PLANT IN VAN BUREN PROTESTED OUTSIDE THE PLANT TODAY... WORKERS SAY THEY'RE UPSET THAT THE PLANT IS CLOSING MAY 12TH. 40/29S REAGAN HUBBARD SPOKE WITH WORKERS AND WITH TYSON AND IS LIVE IN VAN BUREN. TONIGHT THERE DOZENS PROTESTERS OUT HERE TONIGHT... FOLKS WE TALKED TO SAY THEY DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CLOSURE AND THEY WANT MORE FROM TYSON. The Tyson plant in Van Buren announced the closing of its location on march 13th One worker we talked to says after hearing of the plants closure, no further information was given them. SOT - Marleeny Vaquerano- Tyson employee "We were told that about a month ago that Tyson was going to close down the facility on May 12, but nothing else was told to us. Nothing about compensation or benefits, they didn't address the issues that we are enduring now, they just basically just told us that they are going to shut down on may 12th." Many of the workers are upset with the working conditions they say they have endured, like long working hours and doing the work of multiple people, on their own. SOT -Edgar Cardenas, Tyson employee "During the pandemic, we were called heroes. We were working, risking, we saw a lot of people die. And now with the plant closing they've pretty much given us a slap in the face." The protestors were asked to leave by Tyson on multiple occasions throughout the day, but they didn't go. SOT- Magali, Head Organizer of Protest "The workers decided to stay here until 5, to wait for the second shift to come, because they know workers from the second shift will come and join the strike. So they are waiting for the workers to join the strike, together," Magali also says the workers want acknowledgment and to be compensated for vacation time that was never given to them. IN A STATEMENT TYSON TOLD 40/29 News that workers who have unused vacation time will be paid in full. TYSON ALSO SAYS.... "We've been in regular communication with our Van Buren team to ensure they have resources and assistance available to them, including a $1,000 stay on bonus for all team members who remain with Tyson Foods until the plant closes." WE ASKED TYSON FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WORKERS WILL BE PROTESTING AGAIN TOMORROW, STARTI
Protests at Tyson meatpacking plant in Van Buren, Arkansas
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Updated: 8:39 AM CDT Apr 11, 2023
Dozens of people gathered Monday to rally outside the Tyson meatpacking plant in Van Buren to protest its planned closure.People held signs in English and Spanish that read "Justice for Workers."Tyson plans to close the plant, which employs nearly 1,000 people, on May 12.Tyson executives made the decision as part of their strategy of "optimizing operations and utilizing full available capacity at each plant," Derek Burleson, Tyson spokesperson, told 40/29 News in March. Tyson reported $13.26 billion in sales in its first quarter 2023 results.Community ChangesThe plant closure is the largest in the River Valley since Whirpool shuttered its Fort Smith factory in 2012, according to Alan Ellstrand, associate dean at the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.Burleson sent a new statement after the protest began, saying the company was giving a $1,000 stay on bonus for people who apply for other jobs at Tyson and offering relocation assistance.But many people don't want to leave their homes, Ellstrand said.“Workers who enjoy living in Van Buren, they're going to stay. They will find something else to do. And uprooting your family, moving, even if it means moving from the River Valley to Northwest Arkansas, that's a big move," he noted in a March interview.River Valley groups are planning to help workers losing their jobs learn new skills and build their resumes."Really, we want to keep these people in our community and not force them to have to move out of state or anywhere else to find work," Kendall Ross, Kendall Ross, executive director for the Center for Economic Development, said in an interview in March.The statement Burleson sent stated Tyson was connecting laid off workers with such resources.
VAN BUREN, Ark. — Dozens of people gathered Monday to rally outside the Tyson meatpacking plant in Van Buren to protest its planned closure.
People held signs in English and Spanish that read "Justice for Workers."
Tyson plans to close the plant, which employs nearly 1,000 people, on May 12.
Tyson executives made the decision as part of their strategy of "optimizing operations and utilizing full available capacity at each plant," Derek Burleson, Tyson spokesperson, told 40/29 News in March.
Tyson reported $13.26 billion in sales in its first quarter 2023 results.
Community Changes
The plant closure is the largest in the River Valley since Whirpool shuttered its Fort Smith factory in 2012, according to Alan Ellstrand, associate dean at the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas.
Burleson sent a new statement after the protest began, saying the company was giving a $1,000 stay on bonus for people who apply for other jobs at Tyson and offering relocation assistance.
But many people don't want to leave their homes, Ellstrand said.
“Workers who enjoy living in Van Buren, they're going to stay. They will find something else to do. And uprooting your family, moving, even if it means moving from the River Valley to Northwest Arkansas, that's a big move," he noted in a March interview.
River Valley groups are planning to help workers losing their jobs learn new skills and build their resumes.
"Really, we want to keep these people in our community and not force them to have to move out of state or anywhere else to find work," Kendall Ross, Kendall Ross, executive director for the Center for Economic Development, said in an interview in March.
The statement Burleson sent stated Tyson was connecting laid off workers with such resources.
