SIOUX FALLS, S.D.– Like almost all food processors, Smithfield bars journalists from its plants. Reporter McKenzie Huber of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader penetrated the wall of secrecy at Smthfield’s COVID-19 infected Sioux City plant by interviewing workers off premises. McKenzie spoke with more than a dozen employees of the plants 3,500, promising, not to identify them in print because they feared for their job security. One thread that McKenize found was hesitancy about a $500 “responsibility bonus” for not missing work. “I’m not a fool,” said one employee. The hazard pay would be put earnings at about 1-1/2 or two times normal pay for a week
Earlier: Cynicism among Smithfield workers