A review from Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety has found that Cargill did not attempt to engage worker representation as it investigated the circumstances that led to the largest COVID-19 outbreak linked to a single facility in Canada.
A review from Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) has found that Cargill did not attempt to engage worker representation as it investigated the circumstances that led to the largest COVID-19 outbreak linked to a single facility in Canada.
Such steps are required under Alberta’s OHS Act, which requires investigations to be conducted with the participation of the joint work site health and safety committee.
A copy of the OHS review was provided to CBC News by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401, the union representing workers at the meat processing plant in High River, Alta.
“The main thing is, for the first time on paper, we have OHS validating us and echoing what we’ve been saying all along … that we haven’t been included in the process,” said Michael Hughes, a spokesperson with the UFCW. “It means that that plant hasn’t been inspected in compliance with the OHS Act.
“If it hasn’t been inspected in compliance with the OHS Act, how is it operating today?”
Cargill’s meat-packing plant in southern Alberta has been linked to more than 1,500 cases of COVID-19, with close to 950 employees testing positive. Two deaths are linked to the plant.