Teamster Local 104 said 36 employees at a United Parcel Service distribution facility had tested positive for the new virus.
A local labor union said an outbreak of COVID-19 at a Tucson United Parcel Service distribution facility is more widespread than first thought.
As reported May 24 in the Arizona Daily Star, Teamster Local 104 said 36 employees at the south-side facility had tested positive for the coronavirus.
According to the new press release, dated Thursday, May 28, the number of employees who have tested positive has risen to 43 in the last three weeks, after an additional 85 employees were tested last Saturday.
“This number does not include family members that have tested positive or members of the public that could have been exposed to COVID-19 through community spread originating from the UPS facility,” the statement said.
The statement also cited CDC guidance in calling for the temporary closure of the facility, testing of every employee at the facility and an aggressive contact tracing program.
“Potential outbreaks need to be ‘investigated by a special team of experts’ and more stringent mitigation and investigation protocols need to be put in place,” the release stated.
An earlier Teamsters news release said UPS and the Arizona Department of Health Services “refused to disclose the extent of the outbreak,” at the distribution facility, home to nearly 700 employees.
Kim Krebs, spokeswoman for UPS, would not answer specific questions about the facility, but she did refer to a news release crafted in response to the union.
“Our first priority is always the safety of our employees and the communities we serve,” the statement said.
Although the UPS statement parallels the Teamsters’ by confirming the amount of tests administered on site, it contends the company is doing its part to keep employees safe, offering up as evidence mask-wearing and cleaning protocols.
The statement also breaks with the union by challenging the assertion employees who have tested positive picked up the virus at work.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
Homer Thiel, left, from Desert Archaeology works at the site of an archaeological dig just west of the historic Pima County Courthouse on Feb. 13, 2019.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
Researchers look for artifacts at an archaeological dig site just west of the historic Pima County Courthouse on Feb. 13, 2019. Pottery shards from the site are providing new insights into life at the original Tucson presidio.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
A drone provides an aerial view of an archaeological dig that was completed in 2019 to make way for construction of the new January 8th Memorial next to the historic Pima County Courthouse.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
Workers dig for artifacts from Tucson's presidio past ahead of construction of the new January 8th Memorial on the west side of the historic Pima County Courthouse downtown.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
A researcher holds out an artifact unearthed during a 2019 archaeological dig in downtown Tucson.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
Workers search for artifacts at an archaeological dig west of the historic Pima County Courthouse in 2019.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
A sign marks the location of a long-buried downtown street that was unearthed during an archaeological dig in 2019.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
A trench marks the location of an archaeological dig conducted in 2019 in advance of construction on the new January 8th Memorial downtown.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
A drone photo show progress on a downtown archaeological dig in 2019 that unearthed artifacts from the original Tucson presidio.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
During the archaeological dig at the historic Pima County Courthouse, artifacts like this tile fragment from the 1929 courthouse were found.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
These pieces of Mexican majolica pottery were among the artifacts found during an archaeological dig at the historic Pima County Courthouse.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
An archaeological dig at the historic Pima County Courthouse turned up such artifacts as this French-made clay pipe stem.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
This belt buckle was among the artifacts discovered during the archaeological dig in downtown Tucson in 2019.
Archeological dig by the Historic County Courthouse
Numerous farm animal bones, mostly from cows, were found during a downtown archaeological dig in 2019 that unearthed artifacts from the original Tucson presidio.
Zuni Indian pottery
Researchers believe these pieces of Zuni Indian pottery unearthed from the site of the original Tucson presidio may date back to the late 1700s.
Zuni Indian Pottery
Spanish soldiers may have brought Zuni pottery with them to Tucson after a 1795 military expedition to what is now northwestern New Mexico.
“We do not assume, and neither should others, that cases of infection occur as a result of the work environment, especially when there is a community spread,” the statement said.
Edward Celaya is on hiatus from the Star Opinion section and Editorial Board while he temporarily fills in for news reporters on furlough. He will not be writing opinion about any subjects he covers in news stories for the foreseeable future.
Edward Celaya
Opinion Writer
Edward graduated from the University of Arizona and started at the Star in 2019. He was born in Tucson, but grew up in Casa Grande and Chandler. Previously, he was a reporter and editor for Pima Community College's Aztec Press, and the UA's Daily Wildcat.
