Tyson Foods is being sued by families of three workers at one of its Iowa plants who died after contracting COVID-19.
The lawsuit, filed in Black Hawk County district court, alleges that Tyson concealed information about the extent of illness among the workforce at its pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, and that it failed to institute adequate safety measures.
Meat processing companies, including Tyson, have been sued over worker deaths by COVID-19 before, but this is reportedly the first lawsuit filed on behalf of multiple deceased workers at one facility.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of employees Sedika Buljic, 58, who died on April 18; Reberiano Garcia, 60, who died on April 23; and Jose Ayala, Jr., 44, who died on May 25.
In other Tyson news, the company has announced the closing of a facility in Columbia, S.C., that processes pork for taco fillings and pizza toppings.
Tyson said the closing is being done for business reasons and is not related to the pandemic. More than 100 people work at the Columbia plant.
