Some Olymel workers return to closed plant for sanitation training

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It is unclear at this time, however, exactly how many employees that entails, but Vigneault acknowledges they would certainly include management positions.

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Olymel announced on Feb. 15 that its Red Deer pork plant would be shutting down in response to the skyrocketing number of cases linked to the COVID-19 outbreak at the facility. A total of 511 cases have stemmed from the outbreak, including three deaths. The number of active cases linked to the outbreak as of Tuesday sat at 91, down more than half from the peak number of 212 from mid-February.

In a video shared on Twitter Wednesday morning, Larry Zima, director of the north for UFCW Local 401, said union members were on-site at Olymel to show solidarity for workers and reiterated the union’s stance that the plant is not currently safe to operate.

UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse shared an open letter to Olymel this week stating union members don’t feel safe returning to work at this time.

Hesse says that out of 600 workers who responded to a survey conducted by the union, 75 per cent were scared or nervous to return to work, 80 per cent were unsure if the plant is safe right now, and that 75 per cent indicated they do not fully trust Olymel to keep them safe.

More than 50 per cent of respondents indicated they do not fully trust government officials to keep them safe, Hesse wrote. Ninety per cent of respondents want Olymel to pay them while the plant is closed.

“Needless to say, these results make a few things clear: Olymel workers still do not feel safe at the Plant, they do not trust either Olymel or government officials to keep them safe, they have struggled during this temporary closure, and they are demanding financial support for the time during which they were not paid and going forward,” wrote Hesse.

The letter lists 22 things the union wants Olymel to implement before reopening the plant, such as interview employees to understand their perspective and seek recommendations for a safe workplace, provide additional safety training, and determine jointly agreed upon triggers for closures or reduced operations in the event of future outbreaks. The union also wants full compensation for workers for the full duration of any plant closure.