Can the Government force us back to work?

Nurses COVID

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I am a disabled RN. I am wondering can the government force us back to work. It sounds like that is happening with other countries.

Specializes in Community health.
1 hour ago, herring_RN said:

I think it is so wrong for meat processing employees have to choose whether to risk their lives or quit their jobs and not qualify for unemployment insurance. I wonder if any one has sued about this.

I certainly am not up to date on the details of this situation. But we (humans) do have to have food, and somebody has to make it / pick it / process it. I know you were talking specifically about meat processing, and obviously vegetarianism is an option. But I mean in general, overall— people who say they don’t “feel safe” picking the crops, processing them, putting them in cans and bags and trucking them across the country... they can’t just all stay home! We have 300 million people, and while I do love my local small-town farm stands, and my backyard garden, you have to have the massive industrial-level processing in order to keep that number of people fed.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
7 minutes ago, CommunityRNBSN said:

I certainly am not up to date on the details of this situation. But we (humans) do have to have food, and somebody has to make it / pick it / process it. I know you were talking specifically about meat processing, and obviously vegetarianism is an option. But I mean in general, overall— people who say they don’t “feel safe” picking the crops, processing them, putting them in cans and bags and trucking them across the country... they can’t just all stay home! We have 300 million people, and while I do love my local small-town farm stands, and my backyard garden, you have to have the massive industrial-level processing in order to keep that number of people fed.

You should read up. This is from the 6th but explains pretty well.

https://www.minnpost.com/health/2020/05/to-understand-the-danger-of-covid-19-outbreaks-in-meatpacking-plants-look-at-the-industrys-history/

These workers are getting sick. The employers must make changes to create more than an illusion of safety for these workers.

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2020/04/28/usda-implement-president-trumps-executive-order-meat-and-poultry

Governors have ability to limit access to unemployment benefits which would tend to cause people to work when they otherwise shouldnt because of the outbreak. https://www.Google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/495050-states-telling-workers-theyll-lose-unemployment-benefits-if-they-refuse%3famp

Credible reporting, like this. https://www.businessinsider.com/osha-stops-enforcement-for-meat-plants-good-faith-safety-efforts-2020-4.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

We do have to eat. Unfortunately worldwide this virus is infecting many and killing some meat workers. Back in April President Trump signed an executive order force meat processing plants to keep meat processing plants open. https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-04-28/trump-to-sign-order-keeping-meat-processing-plants-open

The problem is that there are no regulations or guidelines on how to protect the workers. Likely because of the executive order OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has stopped enforcing coronavirus-related safety guidelines in meat factories. That leaves workers the choice of working under dangerous conditions or quitting.

https://nypost.com/2020/05/08/family-of-philadelphia-meat-worker-who-died-of-coronavirus-sues-factory/

Thirty Workers, Four USDA Inspectors Dead Amid Meat Plant Coronavirus Outbreaks: https://time.com/5836973/usda-inspector-meat-workers-dead-coronavirus/

https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2020/05/12/reports-texas-meat-plant-worker-who-contracted-covid-19-found-dead-in-home/

https://www.businessinsider.com/tyson-workers-die-ill-covid-19-without-paid-sick-leave-2020-4?op=1

https://www.MSN.com/en-us/news/us/nearly-600-employees-at-north-carolina-chicken-processing-plant-test-positive-for-coronavirus/ar-BB14qegM

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-04-13/smithfield-foods-closes-south-dakota-processing-plant-after-employees-test-positive-for-coronavirus

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/04/us/triumph-foods-outbreak-missouri/index.html

https://www.wfla.com/community/health/coronavirus/large-meat-plant-closes-after-293-employees-test-positive-for-coronavirus/

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
10 minutes ago, herring_RN said:

We do have to eat. Unfortunately worldwide this virus is infecting many and killing some meat workers. Back in April President Trump signed an executive order force meat processing plants to keep meat processing plants open. https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2020-04-28/trump-to-sign-order-keeping-meat-processing-plants-open

The problem is that there are no regulations or guidelines on how to protect the workers. Likely because of the executive order OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has stopped enforcing coronavirus-related safety guidelines in meat factories. That leaves workers the choice of working under dangerous conditions or quitting.

https://nypost.com/2020/05/08/family-of-philadelphia-meat-worker-who-died-of-coronavirus-sues-factory/

Thirty Workers, Four USDA Inspectors Dead Amid Meat Plant Coronavirus Outbreaks: https://time.com/5836973/usda-inspector-meat-workers-dead-coronavirus/

https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2020/05/12/reports-texas-meat-plant-worker-who-contracted-covid-19-found-dead-in-home/

https://www.businessinsider.com/tyson-workers-die-ill-covid-19-without-paid-sick-leave-2020-4?op=1

https://www.MSN.com/en-us/news/us/nearly-600-employees-at-north-carolina-chicken-processing-plant-test-positive-for-coronavirus/ar-BB14qegM

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-04-13/smithfield-foods-closes-south-dakota-processing-plant-after-employees-test-positive-for-coronavirus

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/04/us/triumph-foods-outbreak-missouri/index.html

https://www.wfla.com/community/health/coronavirus/large-meat-plant-closes-after-293-employees-test-positive-for-coronavirus/

And this, not asking people to wear masks or social distance, is the pathway of tyranny. It sure seems cruel and oppressive to me.

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Specializes in Community health.
10 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

You should read up. This is from the 6th but explains pretty well.

Thanks for the info! I appreciate your giving actual, helpful links to information. I haven’t read them yet but I will.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
3 hours ago, CommunityRNBSN said:

Thanks for the info! I appreciate your giving actual, helpful links to information. I haven’t read them yet but I will.

You are welcome. It's difficult to keep up there are so many things happening that should be important to us.

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