One worker has died of COVID-19, the union says about 80 have tested positive, yet Olymel is resisting the union’s call to temporarily shut down the pork processing plant and an associated pork, veal and poultry distribution centre.
The worker died Tuesday, one day after testing positive. The company said it is still investigating the cause of death.
The plant is at Vallee Jonction, a rural area in the Beauce Region of Quebec and it employs about 1,200 people.
The province had declared the region a red zone for the virus.
"People are still working, but they're worried. There are some who are still waiting for test results," said Martin Maurice, president of the Syndicat des travailleurs d'Olymel Vallée-Jonction.
