$252M FOR FOOD SECTOR

Aid for farmers, processors

The union representing workers at High River’s Cargill meat-packing plant — the site where 949 workers have tested positive for COVID -19 — is questioning whether federal dollars for improved safety at food processing workplaces will actually make a difference.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday that Ottawa is committing $77 million for food processors to protect the health of workers amid the COVID -19 pandemic by helping firms purchase more masks and gloves, and adjust hygiene protocols.

It’s part of a $252-million aid package, which also includes $125 million to help pork and beef producers adapt to market changes. The funds will help ranchers keep animals on their farms longer, often a costly endeavour, as they are raising more animals than the system can currently process.

“These days, everyone working in the food industry is working harder than ever to fill the shelves of our grocery stores,” Trudeau said. “They continue to work long hours to feed us and the pandemic is making things more complicated for them. Workers must take additional measures to protect themselves. They must change the way they work and respect physical distancing.”

But Michael Hughes, a spokesman for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401, called the federal announcement “incredibly frustrating.”

He said Cargill “has failed miserably in preventing the largest outbreak in North America.”

“Frankly, the federal government opening up the public purse to them, with the intention of giving them the means to do what they already should’ve been doing, it’s not the solution,” Hughes said.

“They’re giving money to industry to ensure that they have the money to do the right thing.

I don’t think the Cargill family needs more money.”

The union, which represents the Cargill plant’s 2,000 workers, is seeking a stop-work order. The plant reopened Monday, operating with two shifts, following a two-week closure.

A hearing before the Alberta Labour Relations Board is scheduled for Thursday.

Cargill declined to comment on the legal proceedings.

A spokesman for the company said employee attendance has been “good” since reopening. Cargill planned to resume fabrication, the process whereby meat is cut up and prepared, on Wednesday, as both Alberta Health Services and Occupational Health and Safety “have determined that is safe ... to do so.”

“We’re currently reviewing the Prime Minister’s announcement to determine any impacts to our operations,” spokesman Daniel Sullivan said in a statement.

“We are grateful, however, to the government and community organizations for their commitment to ranchers and processors and to the health and safety of industry workers during this difficult time. That is our top priority as well.”

A total of 810 infected employees at the plant have recovered from COVID-19, according to the province. One worker, 67-year-old Hiep Bui, died last month.

Hughes said the facility needs to be closed until employees can feel safe going to work.

An internal survey conducted by the union found that 85 per cent of plant workers were afraid to return to their jobs this week.

“We’re beside ourselves with the lack of political will to make that happen,” he said.

NDP house leader Heather Sweet said the Opposition intends to call for an emergency debate when the legislature resumes sitting Wednesday, seeking to halt operations of the Cargill plant until an investigator from outside the province can assess its safety procedures.

The debate can only occur with the government’s consent.

“The workers of Cargill were ignored by the UCP government,” said Sweet.

“We recognize that the agricultural industry in Alberta is paramount and is important, and so we’re also asking this provincial government ... to do something to support the beef industry, the pork industry.”

Hughes said workers shouldn’t be burdened with the “tension” between choosing safety or their job.

“We don’t think that should be a false choice for people,” he said. “You should have the right to have a job, and you should have the right to come home from that job and not be sick and not give that illness to your family members.”