MADISON, WISCONSIN — Meatpacking workers and unions are urging companies and the federal government to implement safety measures at factories.

In Brown County hundreds of meat packing employees have tested positive for the coronavirus.

On Wednesday in a press call many workers spoke about the working conditions.

“While we were working we were sweating so hard that it was making the mask wet and also our sweat was falling on the meat,” said Filiberto Reyes Martinez, an employee at American Foods Group in Green Bay.

Martinez said conditions got harder as people stopped coming in either from having the coronavirus or fear of getting it. He said he was fired for bringing up his concerns. However, he said it was important to speak out.

“We understand that we have value as working people and that we should not be humiliated.”

AFG did not return a request for comment.

The Brown County Health Department said it is not aware of any unsafe conditions at American Foods.

American foods has not announced plans to close.

Unlike JBS,which announced it would temporarily close its Green Bay plant on Sunday.

On Tuesday President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring food processing plants as critical business.

The order said “...the Secretary of Agriculture shall take all appropriate action under that section to ensure that meat and poultry processors continue operations consistent with the guidance for their operations jointly issued by the CDC and OSHA.”

The order directs the facilities to stay open in an attempt to sure up the food supply.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union represents meat packing employees in Wisconsin and around the country.

Marc Perrone, UCFW international president, released a statement after the president's order saying in part: “While we share the concern over the food supply, today’s executive order to force meatpacking plants to stay open must put the safety of our country’s meatpacking workers first.”

UCFW reports that around the nation about 20 meatpacking employees have died from coronavirus and roughly another 5,000 have tested positive or have symptoms of it. It has sent multiple letter to the White House urging the federal government to adopt new safety measures for meatpacking workers during this time.

The Green Bay alder representing AFG's district says his first concern is the safety of the employees.

”We'd like to see essential businesses stay open if they can, but first and foremost is public health, we're in the middle of a pandemic and public health takes precedence over everything as far as i'm concerned,” Randy Scannell said.

Meatpacking employees are concerned with their health too.

“They are afraid, they are afraid for their spouses, they are afraid for their children,” said Leopordo Jiminez,whose wife maria works at Echo Lake foods in Rochester.

Martinez agreed, saying people are afraid for their health and their jobs.

“I would say that there is a lot of fear,” Martinez said.

JBS foods has not answered if the executive order will impact its closure in Green Bay. A company spokesperson said “The men and women who feed America have gone unnoticed for far too long. The country is now rightly focused on their essential role in keeping grocery shelves stocked and helping feed families across our nation every day. Their health and safety remains our primary focus. To us, they have always been essential. We thank the Administration for acknowledging the important role food companies serve and ensuring that our food supply will remain resilient during these unprecedented times.”

The Smithfield Foods plant in Cudahy has been closed for two weeks after employees tested positive.

A company spokesperson said it is evaluating the next steps to open its closed facilities on a case-by-case basis.

The Cudahy Health Department said it tested 503 plant employees for Coronavirus from April 24 to 28. It does not yet have the results of those tests.