Plant Closures, Illegal Labor Practices Provoke Boycott of Tyson Foods
A wave of plant closures by meat giant Tyson Foods has ignited consumer anger, sparking a boycott of their popular brands like Jimmy Dean and Hillshire Farm.
The company stands accused of prioritizing asylum seekers for new hires while shuttering facilities across several states, leaving American workers jobless.
Critics point to Tyson’s recent recruitment efforts at job fairs in New York City. There, they offered wages of “$16.50 an hour” and “free immigration lawyers” to asylum seekers. This move, they argue, disregards American citizens in favor of “cheaper migrant labor.”
Adding fuel to the fire is a legal warning from America First Legal, a conservative group specializing in activist lawfare. They claim Tyson’s hiring practices might violate federal laws against employment discrimination based on citizenship. The group emphasized that prioritizing “foreign-born workers over Americans” is illegal.
Tyson has remained silent on the matter, refusing to comment on the boycott or the legal accusations.
The company’s CEO, Donnie King, has also come under scrutiny for his political contributions during his tenure. Open Secrets, a campaign finance watchdog, revealed donations from Tyson to both President Biden and potential challenger Nikki Haley.
The situation highlights broader anxieties about immigration’s impact on the American workforce. With unemployment hovering near record lows, some fear that asylum seekers are taking jobs away from native-born citizens, particularly in less desirable sectors like meatpacking.
Tyson defends its actions by citing a significant labor shortage. The company needs to fill a staggering “52,000 jobs” this year, and according to them, asylum seekers help address this gap due to high turnover rates within these plants. Furthermore, Tyson already employs a substantial number of immigrants (around “42,000”) and actively seeks to expand that figure through partnerships with organizations like the Tent Partnership for Refugees.
The company acknowledges the legal limitations faced by asylum seekers. They are typically unable to work immediately upon arrival and might wait months for a work permit. To address this hurdle, Tyson offers financial support for “immigration lawyers” and provides “paid time off” for court appearances.
Furthermore, the company reportedly invests in “temporary housing,” “onsite childcare,” “transportation,” and “English classes” to assist its migrant workforce. In 2022, Tyson committed to hiring “2,500 refugees” through the Tent Partnership program, a number that increased by “150” in 2023, including Afghan refugees placed in Arkansas locations.
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