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Article

30 Jul 2020

Author:
Venceremos & Food & Water Watch

Advocacy groups demand FTC investigate Tyson for false labor claims

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The complaint states, in part: "As a large and growing number of consumers become keenly interested in avoiding purchasing products that are produced by way of unsafe or unethical labor practices, producers like Tyson have sat up and taken note… For example, on its website, social media accounts, and in its Sustainability Report, Tyson falsely claims its contract growers are “independent farmers” and “family farmers” working in a system that is “transparent and offers long-term stability to farmers.” Tyson also falsely claims that it is “committed to improving the health and safety” of its slaughterhouse workers, and that “ensuring all of these tasks are done in the safest manner is its utmost priority.” In reality, however, Tyson’s contract growers have little to no freedom to make decisions for their chickens and barns, and are kept “in a state of indebted servitude” while under contract."

... “Every day I hear dreadful stories about how Tyson treats its workers, who often express they’re treated worse than the chicken they process. The lack of protections for workers has been exacerbated during the pandemic by the inadequate response of Tyson to protect workers from the deadly virus,” said Magaly Licolli, Director of Venceremos. “It’s completely unacceptable to allow Tyson to continue misleading consumers and the public about how they treat workers. The FTC must investigate Tyson’s advertising and compel them to either remove unsupported claims about the work environment or act immediately and adequately to support those claims, providing the necessary conditions for worker’s health and safety.”