The High River Cargill plant was home to Canada's largest COVID-19 outbreak in the spring of 2020 when close to 950 workers tested positive
Author of the article: Dylan Short
Publishing date: Nov 05, 2021 •
The Cargill meat packing plant near High River, where more than 900 workers tested positive for COVID-19 in April and May 2020.
PHOTO BY JIM WELLS/POSTMEDIA
A majority of employees of the Cargill meat processing plant in High River have voted in favour of taking strike action as the union accuses the company of doing little to advance negotiations.
United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 401, issued a statement online Friday saying close to 1,400 members who work at the plant voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike if Cargill does not provide a fair offer.
Union spokesman Scott Payne said members have grown increasingly angry over the negotiations that began in March after the previous collective agreement expired at the end of 2020. He said the employer has not come to the table in order for any offers to be presented.
Payne said the union is looking to address issues around health and safety, movement within the company and wage concerns.
“Cargill has dragged its feet in two ways,” said Payne. “One way is its willingness to actually make proposals and respond to our proposals, and dragging their feet in that regard.
“But they’ve also dragged their feet in terms of their availability. They’ve given us a couple days here, a couple days there. They just haven’t given us enough of their time and attention to actually making any progress on negotiations.”
The two sides met with a government-appointed mediator on one occasion before UFCW’s bargaining committee made the decision to ask the mediator to leave the talks to move forward with a strike vote, according to the union’s statement online.
Payne said he believes a strike is the most likely outcome of negotiations. He said the bargaining team is set to meet with Cargill representatives next week and that strike action could take place following those meetings.
“We’re looking at 1,000 people ready to stand out in front of that plant on strike, and it’s looking very likely that’s what it’s going to come to,” said Payne.
Requests for comment were not returned by Cargill Friday afternoon.
A majority of employees of the Cargill meat processing plant in High River have voted in favour of taking strike action as the union accuses the company of doing little to advance negotiations.
United Food & Commercial Workers Union, Local 401, issued a statement online Friday saying close to 1,400 members who work at the plant voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike if Cargill does not provide a fair offer.
Union spokesman Scott Payne said members have grown increasingly angry over the negotiations that began in March after the previous collective agreement expired at the end of 2020. He said the employer has not come to the table in order for any offers to be presented.
Payne said the union is looking to address issues around health and safety, movement within the company and wage concerns.
“Cargill has dragged its feet in two ways,” said Payne. “One way is its willingness to actually make proposals and respond to our proposals, and dragging their feet in that regard.
“But they’ve also dragged their feet in terms of their availability. They’ve given us a couple days here, a couple days there. They just haven’t given us enough of their time and attention to actually making any progress on negotiations.”
The two sides met with a government-appointed mediator on one occasion before UFCW’s bargaining committee made the decision to ask the mediator to leave the talks to move forward with a strike vote, according to the union’s statement online.
Payne said he believes a strike is the most likely outcome of negotiations. He said the bargaining team is set to meet with Cargill representatives next week and that strike action could take place following those meetings.
“We’re looking at 1,000 people ready to stand out in front of that plant on strike, and it’s looking very likely that’s what it’s going to come to,” said Payne.
Requests for comment were not returned by Cargill Friday afternoon.
The High River Cargill plant was home to Canada’s largest COVID-19 outbreak in the spring of 2020 when close to 950 workers tested positive.
Three deaths were linked to the site’s outbreak. Workers Benito Quesada, 51, and Hiep Bui, 67, both died from the virus last spring. Armando Sallegue, 71, the father of another plant worker, also died from the disease while visiting from the Philippines.
A second outbreak was declared at the plant in March 2021 as 11 cases were connected to the worksite.
About 2,000 employees work at the High River Cargill plant.
dshort@postmedia.com
— With files from Jason Herring
Three deaths were linked to the site’s outbreak. Workers Benito Quesada, 51, and Hiep Bui, 67, both died from the virus last spring. Armando Sallegue, 71, the father of another plant worker, also died from the disease while visiting from the Philippines.
A second outbreak was declared at the plant in March 2021 as 11 cases were connected to the worksite.
About 2,000 employees work at the High River Cargill plant.
dshort@postmedia.com
— With files from Jason Herring
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