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RED DEER, Alta. A union for pork plant workers in central Alberta says it is exploring legal options to ensure they are paid during a shutdown brought on by a COVID-19 outbreak, while the company is working to ease a backlog that has pinched Prairie hog farmers.
Olymel indefinitely closed its hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning operation in Red Deer earlier this week. As of Friday afternoon, Alberta Health had been notified of 426 cases linked to the outbreak, 212 of which were active. One worker has died.
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Publishing date: Feb 19, 2021 • February 19, 2021 • 1 minute read •
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WINNIPEG Canada’s Olymel LP said on Friday it was shipping pigs to the United States to help clear a backlog of slaughter-weight hogs after it had to temporarily close its Red Deer, Alberta, plant because of a coronavirus outbreak.
Olymel shut the plant on Wednesday and declared force majeure – unforeseeable circumstances that prevent contract fulfillment. Alberta’s health department is aware of 426 infections linked to the outbreak, including one death, spokesman Tom McMillan said.
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Rod Nickel, Tom Polansek
(Adds comment from farmer group, Canadian government, Maple Leaf Foods)
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Canada’s Olymel LP said on Friday it was shipping pigs to the United States to help clear a backlog of hogs after it had to temporarily close its Red Deer, Alberta, slaughter plant because of a coronavirus outbreak.
Olymel shut the plant on Wednesday and declared force majeure - unforeseeable circumstances that prevent contract fulfilment. Alberta’s health department knows of 426 infections linked to the outbreak, including one death, spokesman Tom McMillan said.
The virus spread fast last spring in Canadian and U.S. meat plants, where people typically work closely together. Cargill Inc temporarily closed a Guelph, Ontario, beef plant in December.
Union pressing Olymel on employee pay during outbreak as Prairie hog farmers worry cbc.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cbc.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
RED DEER, Alta. - The union representing staff at a central Alberta pork plant says it's exploring legal options to make sure workers are paid during a