The federal lawsuit also notes that HR director James Hook and plant manager Tom Hart told interpreters at an April meeting that county health department workers had “cleared” the facility to be open. The suit was filed on behalf of the families of three Tyson workers who died of COVID-19.
Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson would not comment on the allegations, but notes that the company acted in the spring to try to stem the virus from spreading at the plant where 2,800 are employed.
The lawsuit notes that Tyson employees had tested positive for COVID-19 and that county health officials had not given their OK for operations to begin and instead had pushed for the plant to shut down.