A coalition of North American worker organizations on Monday marched to Tyson Foods headquarters in Springdale where participants urged the company to treat workers with dignity and respect. 

Magaly Licolli, executive director of Venceremos, a Springdale-based nonprofit supporting poultry workers, said holding Tyson accountable for underaged children working in its facilities was one focus of the demonstration..

“I know that Tyson has claimed that they didn’t hire those workers, but they cannot just avoid responsibility to not look into what is going on within their supply chain,” Licolli said. 

The penalties were a result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor into 13 plants owned by various companies in eight states that found more than 100 minors, ranging from 13 to 17 years old, spent overnight shifts cleaning equipment like head splitters, and were exposed to dangerous chemicals.

Less than two weeks after the Department of Labor announced the fines, Arkansas lawmakers approved the Youth Hiring Act, which removes the requirement for children under 16 to prove their age and obtain written permission from a parent to get a job. The bill’s lead sponsor were two Republicans who represent portions of Springdale — Sen. Clint Penzo and Rep. Rebecca Burkes...

Licolly said Tyson didn’t make a public statement against the bill, “which makes us think that they are really benefiting from that because the kids are working within their supply chain.”

Tyson did not respond to a request for comment on Monday...