Cargill beef-processing factory in High River, Alta. almost eludes strike operation

Key takeaways: 

• Days ere the prepared strike at the High River, Alta., facility, the union allows to a fresh arrangement.
•  On Saturday, operators received a fresh settlement proposal that introduced new rights for ill employees. 

Cargill beef-producing factory somehow avoids the strike: 

Workers at Cargill’s beef processing factory in High River, Alta., have decided in favour of a fresh labour deal, almost bypassing strike action and a potential lockout.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 (UFCW), which depicts workers at the plant, stated Saturday that operators wanted to take the new deal proposal, with 71 per cent polling in support. In a report, UFCW stated it was not an obvious choice for workers at the plant, and called the deal vote a “bittersweet success.”  source – cbc.ca

Workers had put security concerns after a COVID-19 outbreak at the plant in 2020 hit almost 900 people. The outbreak, which made Cargill briefly shut the plant — one of Canada’s biggest — is connected to three deaths.

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The union states the new agreement covers systems to guarantee worker health and safety, benefits, and new benefits for sick employees. 

After the two parties continued talks on Tuesday, UFCW’s bargaining committee was allowed to recommend the latest proposal to its members, Cargill spokesperson Daniel Sullivan stated. Workers voted on Thursday and Saturday.

The union issued parts of the stated proposal to the media earlier in the week. The agreement introduced $4,200 in retroactive payment for many Cargill union members; signing, holiday and COVID-19 bonuses; and a $5 salary hike.