Alberta NDP Again Demands Cargill Plant to Shut Down

The death of a second worker at the Cargill beef plant in High River is once again prompting demands from the Alberta NDP to have the plant shut down.

 

The plant in High River re-opened just over a week ago, after being closed for two weeks.  The NDP wants the plant shut down to determine whether the company is meeting legal obligations to involve workers in safety concerns. The NDP's labour critic Christina Gray spoke with reporters on Monday.  "As we have said before, we believe Jason Kenney (Premier), Jason Copping Provincial Labour Minister), and Devin Dreeshen (Provincial Ag Minister) have failed workers at these plants. They are responsible for the outbreak that has put so many lives at risk.  It was April 13, when Cargill workers first asked for a temporary closure, when there were just 38 confirmed cases.  By the time Cargill idles the plant on April 20, two days after Devin Dreeshen assured workers the plant was fully safe, there were 484 confirmed cases and rising."  

 

Gray goes on to say, "the outbreak had spread through the community, impacting families and long term care homes.  Still, Cargill chose to reopen the plant two weeks later on May 4, after zero discussions with their workers. This is not a safe work environment.  We believe the government is responsible and the employer is responsible.  There must be a public inquiry after the emergency has ended."

 

Although the plant is open, it has reduced its shifts to one per day.  The JBS Canada plant, which is also dealing with an outbreak, has done the same with the reduction of shifts but has remained open throughout.