It was not an emphatic stamp of approval, but employees at the Cargill processing plant in High River, AB have accepted a new contract just in time to prevent a work stoppage.
Workers voted 71% in favour of the contract offer, which includes more money and an improvement in benefits. After a previous contract was rejected by a margin of 98%, workers were prepared to walk off the job beginning Monday.
According to United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401, the contract is the “best of its kind and presented unprecedented gains in this time of economic and political uncertainty and during the biggest health crisis the world has ever seen.” Local 401 previously reported the offer included as much as $4,200 in retroactive pay for many Cargill union members, a $1,000 signing bonus, a $1,000 COVID-19 bonus and a more than a $6,000 total bonus for many members. The deal also included a $5/hour wage increase (21% over the contract) for many employees.
In a statement following the contract approval, Local 401 officials said the union is also calling for reforms and restructuring in the meatpacking industry.
The High River plant, which processes up to one-third of all Canadian beef, was the site of a major COVID-19 outbreak last year. There was a second outbreak at the plant earlier this year.
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