Like a well played out stage performance, one has to wonder if the 14 day closure was already agreed to?
There seemed to be a lot of confidence yesterday between Noem and TenHaken in sending this supposed letter. The media wondered why there was no representation from Smithfield’s or the Union. They didn’t seemed to concerned about it. Is it because they already talked to them and the letter was simply icing on the cake of this nice little package?
I think the real media, not just some loud mouth blogger, needs to do some digging.
Here are some things that may further back up my theory;
• A letter? When there is a public health crisis, most people pick up the phone and have discussions in real time. I found this letter (that no one knows how it was sent) to be an afterthought. I think there was very serious conversations behind the scenes and I think Noem and TenHaken (mostly Paul) threatened serious repercussions if this wasn’t done, and in the face of both parties looking very bad an agreement was probably made. Smithfield’s looks good for complying without messy legal problems, and Noem and PTH look good because they got them to comply by sending a ‘letter’ with no legal teeth. Both parties win.
• No public discussion was had before the announcement of the letter. The city council was notified only 1 1/2 hours before the Governor’s press conference in an email about this letter.
• Timed press conferences. How odd that they were just a half hour apart and almost timed to the minute with a coordinated well planned out statements.
• What if they would not have complied? Remember how both Noem and TenHaken were very smug about the idea if they would not have complied. It seemed they had no further plans, because they already knew they would probably comply.
• Another suspicious timing is how Smithfield magically complied in 24 hours, on Easter Sunday no less. Just in time for your Easter Ham.
• No representation from the Union or Smithfield’s was present at these press conferences. They didn’t need to be there, the script was probably already written.
Don’t be fooled by this display of supposed leadership, this seemed to be a well played out act. Don’t get me wrong, closing for 14 days (or more) should be done, it should have been done on March 26 when the first case appeared. We should be thankful a deal was cut, even if it is a little late. What we should not be thankful for is all the games being played behind the scenes. Why can’t our elected leaders just do these things in the open? How simple it would have been for Noem and PTH to just say, “We had a conversation with Smithfield’s that if they didn’t close for 14 days there would be legal intervention.” Seems pretty simple to me. But as an elected official said to me today, Noem and TenHaken would not have wanted to piss off their big money donors.
The virus moved fast at Smithfield. I’m wondering about the call centers. There’s more employees divided by unenclosed cubicles.
If it’s not too early it would’ve been too late. If it’s not enough than it would’ve been too much. If this was 1918 in this culture, I’m sure Congress would’ve launched an investigation against Woodrow Wilson for his handling of the Spanish Flu.
This monkey business with coronavirus is going to cost lives… Lots of them and the blood will be on Noem’s hands. Things should have been slowed down as much as possible with the authority promulgated her by the people of the State of South Dakota, whom she is sworn to protect.
Her troglodyte policy in lieu of science and national expert opinion is something to be admired. NOT…
Well Kristi, you have allowed the virus to spread with your “Looking good for Trump” Republican bootlicking. And, you did it at the expense of others… SMH
Having the plant closed “indefinitely” and having this closure coincide with the Noem and Ten Haken letter is like at best having the US Army show up at the Super Dome some five days after Hurricane Katrina.
Let just hope they reopen someday and those directly impacted by this incompetence, and or greed, are all taken care of, documented appropriately on their health, and fairly contained until the coast is clear.
( and Woodstock adds: “Great!”… “This would be a great opportunity to complete the final stage of the “Phillips to the Falls Project”…. ( Note to oneself: “We finally got rid of the Sioux Steel pup tents”…. “Next, Smithfield”…..)
It’s time to get out the “Mission Accomplished” sign.
Two further thoughts:
Won’t this make a mockery of the One Sioux Falls Fund? Do the math once.
If it’s appropriately funded, however, the employer/establishment crowd might finally be paying enough to its works in this town.
Plus, giving credit to Noem and Ten Haken for this reminds me of something Michael Moore said on CNN, when Bush43 and congressional Republicans claimed the “Surge” was working during the height of the Iraq War back in ’05. Moore said: “It’s like taking credit for cleaning up spilled milk, when you spilled the milk to begin with….”
Maybe our passive-agressive leaders in SD realized the gravity of the situation and put the hammer down which they did not do up until this time. Thus the letter and the decision by Smithfield.
Okay, my final comment, I promise (until tomorrow).
My best Smithfield source, a family friend who works there, but not on the line and is salaried, talked to my wife this morning, and is currently referring to the situation at Smithfield as a “shxt show”.
( and Woodstock adds: “Uh, what kind of show?”…. “You know, I was once in Hamburg, Germany and I…..”)
Doing the rough math, it will cost them about $4 Million for two weeks of salaries. Not to mention the millions they will be losing in production.
That’s a lot of “One Sioux Falls”. A kind gesture has become a joke. That’s what happens, however, when leadership is more image than substance. Maybe a special art contest for the Smithfield kids would help.
Smithfield (China) is a communist entity in a capitalist enterprise. They do not know what to do next. Expect a surprise.
A capitalistic entity and a communist state are one in the same, except that a capitalistic enterprise’s controlled means of production tends to be narrow in scope and in control of fewer natural resources, and without a standing army, except when their accumulated wealth can directly or indirectly control, or manipulate, a state army within their political influence.
Yes, this morning on ‘CBS This Morning’ during their segment called, Table Talk, Tony Dokoupil was singing the praises of Smithfield.
Virginia-based Smithfield just made the largest donation in their company’s history: 10 million dollars of product to the nation’s food banks.
Obviously, the national media is not aware of what is taking place right now in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, home of one of Smithfield’s largest meatpacking plants!!
This is the same Chinese-owned company that withheld information from their employees and the public regarding the soaring number of covid-19 cases within their company walls!! Meanwhile, REQUIRING that 3,700 employees continue to come to work for FIFTEEN days after the first covid-19 case was confirmed!
And, now largely because of the Smithfield cases, Sioux Falls, South Dakota is the FOURTH LARGEST HOT SPOT IN THE U.S…….
CBS Praises Smithfield
Are you saying that CBS would praise a Chinese Owned Company during a Chinese crested pandemic. Nooooooooooo WAY, get out of here. THe media would never do that /sarc?
The Media SHOULD be roasting the Sh!t out of China and digging in to understand the true origins and connecting all the dots but, since they are so bought and paid for over the years they won’t.
I see that Kristi has volunteered the state’s citizens to be guinea pigs for the Madness of King Trump.
“Guinea pigs,” indeed. It’s just a continuation of the swine theme. #SwineFlu
Scott,
I hope you know and look out for whoever is unraveling daily with all these posts. Thats not going to end well.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Yes the Smithfield shutdown seems to be a bit planned around the timing of ham peak demand. It is good to see they will be paying employees while shut down.
The number of people saying Smithfields pays well, while the living conditions of many of their workers is below standards should open some eyes. It appears to me the pay is not even close to equal based on who you are or maybe better said “who you’re not”. I found out those overpriced Honey Baked hams are direct from Smithfield SF plant.
I cant help notice that Huron has 2 kill plants who employ many immigrants but their problem was stopped fast.