Simone Foxman

Jodi thought maybe a union would help protect her from getting fired when she talked back or swore. I really do want to know what your favorite curses are, but you don't have to tell me.

Jodi says the layoffs were brutal. So many people worked at this plant. It was the town's biggest employer. They didn't know where they were going to go to find jobs.

Jodi says the layoffs were brutal. So many people worked at this plant. It was the town's biggest employer. They didn't know where they were going to go to find jobs.

Jodi says the layoffs were brutal. So many people worked at this plant. It was the town's biggest employer. They didn't know where they were going to go to find jobs.

Because Jodi worked for the union, she helped negotiate a plant closing agreement, basically severance for the workers. They got $1,700 plus vacations and holidays paid out.

Because Jodi worked for the union, she helped negotiate a plant closing agreement, basically severance for the workers. They got $1,700 plus vacations and holidays paid out.

Because Jodi worked for the union, she helped negotiate a plant closing agreement, basically severance for the workers. They got $1,700 plus vacations and holidays paid out.

But Jodi says most people didn't want to go. They told her that the pay was going to be worse. And a lot of the people who worked at the plant have kids in school. They're settled. They like Perry. They don't want to pick up and move hours and hours away. I mean, it's a great town. Friendly people. I think it's a nice little town.

But Jodi says most people didn't want to go. They told her that the pay was going to be worse. And a lot of the people who worked at the plant have kids in school. They're settled. They like Perry. They don't want to pick up and move hours and hours away. I mean, it's a great town. Friendly people. I think it's a nice little town.

But Jodi says most people didn't want to go. They told her that the pay was going to be worse. And a lot of the people who worked at the plant have kids in school. They're settled. They like Perry. They don't want to pick up and move hours and hours away. I mean, it's a great town. Friendly people. I think it's a nice little town.

Tyson told a reporter that 200 of the roughly 1,200 people laid off relocated to take jobs at other Tyson facilities.

Tyson told a reporter that 200 of the roughly 1,200 people laid off relocated to take jobs at other Tyson facilities.

Tyson told a reporter that 200 of the roughly 1,200 people laid off relocated to take jobs at other Tyson facilities.

Perry, Iowa also has a lot of recent immigrants living there, people who moved to Perry to work at the plant. Jody says when they would make printouts about the union, they had to use interpreters. They'd print everything out in a dozen languages.

Perry, Iowa also has a lot of recent immigrants living there, people who moved to Perry to work at the plant. Jody says when they would make printouts about the union, they had to use interpreters. They'd print everything out in a dozen languages.

Perry, Iowa also has a lot of recent immigrants living there, people who moved to Perry to work at the plant. Jody says when they would make printouts about the union, they had to use interpreters. They'd print everything out in a dozen languages.

Tyson, for their part, has never made a secret of the fact that they hire from this range of people. They say that 35 percent of their workforce are immigrants.

Tyson, for their part, has never made a secret of the fact that they hire from this range of people. They say that 35 percent of their workforce are immigrants.

Tyson, for their part, has never made a secret of the fact that they hire from this range of people. They say that 35 percent of their workforce are immigrants.

A few months after we went to Tennessee to speak with Kamikaro, the man from Venezuela who is working at the Tyson plant, we decided to check back in with him. Good afternoon. How are you? Kamakaro says things at the plant got kind of chaotic for him. For a while there, his friends had been telling him, we're worried about what will happen when President Trump takes office.