Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Olymel closes Red Deer pork plant

Olymel has temporarily closed its hog-slaughtering plant at Red Deer, Alta., because of an outbreak of COVID-19.

The province said there are 326 confirmed cases and 192 active cases connected to the outbreak that began in November, then escalated beginning Jan. 20.

One person has died. 

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 president Thomas Hesse said the union is relieved after it had been calling for a closure for weeks, but he said there’s no word on whether the 1,850 workers will be paid while the plant is shut.