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‘We shouldn’t be working!’ Dozens walk off job after worker dies at meat-producing facility
FOX19 | Cincinnati • • business
Key Points:
- Dozens of Smithfield Foods workers at the Monmouth, Illinois plant walked off the job after management ordered production to continue following a coworker's death on site.
- Employees expressed grief and frustration, with some confronting management about continuing work despite the tragedy, leading to a plant-wide walkout of approximately 100 workers.
- Smithfield Foods stated workers were given the option to take the day off without penalty, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and confirming some employees chose not to work.
- This incident marks the fourth worker death at the Monmouth plant, with this case reportedly the first caused by a machine; OSHA and local authorities are investigating.
- Smithfield Foods expressed condolences and cooperation with the ongoing investigation, while the deceased worker's identity has not been disclosed.
