Ninety-seven per cent of the workers at Cargill’s beef-packing plant at High River, Alta., have voted to strike if necessary to gain more help to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
There was an outbreak there last year that affected about 950 workers and hundreds of local residents.
The United Food and Commercial Workers local 401 is seeking improved worker benefits, expanded responses to continuing health and safety concerns about COVID-19 outbreaks, and “reasonable” wage increases, the union said.
“Nobody ever wants to go on strike, but Cargill isn’t giving these workers much of a choice,” said UFCW Local 401 president Thomas Hesse.
“If they don’t come to the bargaining table with an offer that fairly addresses the priorities of our members, Cargill may need to get ready for the strongest strike they have ever seen.” The two sides are scheduled to meet this week.
For its part, Cargill said “it will always be our goal to be a supportive employer and key corporate partner to the High River community . . . and “is optimistic that the two sides can come to the table and reach an agreement.”
