KLKN-TV Nebraska senator proposes bill to protect meatpacking workers Senator Tony Vargas is trying once more to advance a bill protecting meatpacking workers from COVID-19 in the workplace January 12, 2021 6:24 am courtesy of Nebraska Legislator's website LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)- Monday morning, Nebraskan Senator Tony Vargas, of Omaha, introduced a new bill to protect meatpacking workers from contracting COVID-19. The Meatpacking Employees COVID-19 Protection Act would put in place CDC and OSHA recommendations that have been around since the start of the pandemic: six feet of distance between workers, access to clean PPE, hand washing stations, regular equipment cleaning, temperature checks, paid sick leave for those who contract COVID-19 with assurances that there wouldn’t be consequences for missing work, and more information on case numbers.