HOUSTON – Tyson Foods Inc. recently hosted Sindy Benavides, chief executive officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), at an on-site COVID-19 vaccination event for nearly 200 employees at Tyson’s plant in Houston. Benavides met with Tyson’s workers to encourage vaccine participation and share LULAC’s mission.
Tyson Foods recently announced that free, on-site vaccination events will include family members of employees as well as others living in their homes. Vaccinations for team members are highly encouraged but not mandatory.
LULAC, the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the country, supports essential workers in the food industry and works to ensure they have access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Companywide, 28% of Tyson Foods employees identify as Hispanic or Latino.
“According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 525,000 workers in 3,500 meat processing facilities nationwide, 44% or 231,000 are Latino,” Benavides said. “We applaud Tyson Foods for being at the forefront of on-site vaccination programs which are proving to be the most successful. We all share the same goal of promoting the health and safety of America’s essential workers as they help nourish our nation.”
Tyson said that more than 44,000 employees have been vaccinated so far at more than 100 events held onsite at Tyson Foods facilities or in nearby community facilities.
“We appreciate LULAC’s partnership and thank Sindy for helping drive awareness about the importance of the vaccine with our team members,” said Hector Gonzalez, senior vice president, human resources for US Business and Administration, Tyson Foods. “Our focus has been on providing education and access to the vaccine and this event helped accomplish both of those goals.”