Meat packers are doing all that they can

Door is open for constructive dialogue, says Bryan Walton.

We’re all in this COVID-19 fight together. Meat packers have met this challenge by making changes in consultation with and under the supervision of Alberta Health Services.

It seems the union’s big beef is that they have not been consulted by employers on measures to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus in the big meat plants. Why would the employer invite a hostile party to the table when it’s all about demands and lawsuits? The door is open for constructive dialogue, but the union has now resorted to a survey of their members designed to elicit a desired response. I’m guessing that the results of this biased survey will be used in a vain attempt to demonstrate that working conditions are unsafe and that employees don’t have to report to work in an ongoing quest to shutter at least one plant.

Meat-processing plants have been closing and reopening around North America since the pandemic hit. Many workers have contracted the virus and, sadly, some have succumbed to the disease. The incidence of COVID-19 varies by plant location. In some cases, the death toll in U.S. plants has been much higher than here. Precautions must be taken to protect workers who must also take precautions at home and in their personal actions.

It is in the best interests of the employer and their staff to take measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Packers, like other employers, have responded as new information became available to create more separation, up the sanitation protocols and provide masks, among other measures. This has not been enough for some, who will never be satisfied. It’s easy to “backcast” in pursuit of a utopian solution, but, this is about the reality of applying mitigation measures in the workplace today. The efforts of the meat processors, again done in consultation with AHS, must be acknowledged and recognized as they work to keep their employees safe.

I’ve been in meat-processing plants in Europe, the U.S. and in the three large beef plants here

Let’s celebrate the contribution our new Canadian friends have made to our society.

in Alberta. Our plants are efficient, world-class, labour-intensive operations. The work is hard and this is recognized by employers who provide competitive wages and benefits.

Packers recruit people here at home and around the world. Those from other countries come seeking new opportunities, the dignity of a job and the chance to become Canadian citizens. They bring new vitality to our communities and we are fortunate they chose to immigrate to Canada.

It’s regrettable that in a few rare cases they are being treated as “carriers of the virus” and vectors of this disease. This narrow-mindedness cannot be tolerated. Let’s celebrate the contribution our new Canadian friends have made to our society. They should not be unfairly singled out when the virus is circulating so widely in the environment.

Meat-plant operators have endeavoured to strike the delicate balance of protecting workers and keeping their businesses in operation. These plants are crucial to the well-being of the beef industry which includes ranchers, auction markets, feedlots, meat packers, grocery stores and restaurants.

There are also thousands of additional people working in supporting roles like veterinarians, nutritionists, truckers and many others. When any link in the chain fails, the entire system is in disarray. Under normal circumstances, the packing plants require a daily flow of fed cattle. Right now, those cattle are backed up in feedlots because of the bottlenecks created by reduced processing capacity. Aside from the losses incurred by producers, the fragility of the system is underscored when a plant is idled, even for a short time. This will lead to disruptions in the supply of beef and possible shortages.

Everyone in the supply chain plays a vital role in providing safe, wholesome food to consumers in Alberta and around the world. Thank you to those who come to work every day to provide for us, especially those who work in our meat-processing plants. Hopefully, COVID-19 will be vanquished so we will see a resumption of normal operations as soon as possible.