Amended lawsuit claims Tyson managers lied to interpreters about COVID-19 dangers
Additional allegations in a lawsuit against the Waterloo Tyson Foods facility claim managers there lied to interpreters about the dangers of COVID-19.
The amended lawsuit, filed on behalf of the families of three Tyson workers who died of COVID-19, claims plant manager Tom Hart and human resources director James Hook told interpreters in April that the facility had no confirmed cases when employees had tested positive.
The complaint also alleges Tyson managers barred interpreters from discussing the virus except to say it was not impacting the plant.
In a statement to vlog, Tyson said it does not comment on current litigation but has invested $20 million into the Waterloo plant to provide protective measures and bonuses to front-line workers.
The statement said, in part, "We've worked hard to provide coronavirus training and education in multiple languages to our team members to help ensure they're safe at work and at home.
“In fact, we have about 20 translators at the Waterloo plant covering more than half a dozen languages."
Tyson previously said the lawsuit’s allegations do not represent the company.
The employees named in the lawsuit are suspended without pay.