Leaders at tysonfoods Columbus Junction pork processing plant believe a union used distribution events for federally funded COVID-19 relief payments to persuade the plant's employees to support a unionization drive, according to a letter obtained by the Des Moines Register. Plant manager Brent McElroy wrote in a memo that ufcwlocal431 representatives convinced employees to sign union authorization cards at recent events where a nonprofit provided $600 checks through the federally funded Farm and Food Workers Relief Grant Program. McElroy wrote that he heard some meatpackers had been "pressured" into signing cards. If at least 30% of employees at a work location sign authorization cards, the employees can petition the National Labor Relations Board to hold a unionization vote. Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #unions #tysonfoods #Iowa