Valley congressmen are backing Central Valley Meat Co., Inc. Three representatives sent a letter to the Secretary of Agriculture, asking for production to begin immediately at the slaughterhouse. They say it's vital to get hundred of people working again.
The parking lot at the plant is almost empty as production has been shut down all week. 500 people are left without work in these difficult economic times.
Alleged inhumane treatment of animals at Central Valley Meat forced one worker to take a hard look in the mirror. Hidden camera footage, shot by a member of Compassion Over Killing, and international animal rights group, showed imaged the employee couldn't stand seeing.
"I didn't want to be part of a company that would be doing bad stuff. I'd rather be without a job right now. I know I can look for something better," said the former employee, who went to the facility to collect his final check.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, quit on principal. But many of his fellow workers are also jobless now.
"They're letting them go and they don't know if they're going to continue working or not. It's hard, it's hard," said the former employee.
Unemployment is what prompted Congressmen Devin Nunes, Jeff Denham and Kevin McCarthy to send a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. They're asking him to immediately reopen the facility.
"The investigation needs to proceed, but to put 500 people out of work where they can't feed their children, is absolute nonsense," said Congressman Nunes by phone.
He questions the source of the video, calling the animal rights group, economic terrorists, similar to the domestic terrorists who blew up 14 semi trucks used for transporting livestock earlier this year.
"The goal of both of these groups are the same: that is to end agriculture. When you end ag in the valley, we don't have jobs here," said Nunes.
The former employee CBS47 spoke to packaged meat for In-N-Out. The burger chain reportedly bought 30% of its meat from the facility. McDonalds has also severed ties. No meat has been recalled, but the future of the plant remains in question.
A statement from Central Valley Meat said in part:
"We have completed and will implement an action plan that includes enhanced video monitoring of our facilities, an increased number of third-party audits, and more comprehensive training for our personnel; all of which not only meets but exceeds the current guidelines."
The USDA said this about when it will reopen the plant:
"The company must first submit a corrective action plan detailing how they intend to comply with humane handling regulations before USDA considers allowing them to operate. After receipt of the plan, USDA will review the proposal to determine next steps. USDA continues to conduct a thorough investigation into alleged activities at the facility."