Nearly one year later, labour groups say meat plants are failing outbreak lessons from Cargill

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Almost a year later, labour groups say Alberta meat plants failed to learn from what was the largest outbreak in North America after another plant outbreak grows to hundreds of cases, and employees fear for their safety as they return to the job.

The workers say racism and poor working conditions remain, this time at the Olymel facility in Red Deer.

“Aside from really dealing with the roots of the problem of the outbreak, it suddenly shifted to blaming the community, blaming the individuals who work there,” said Marco Luciano, the Director for Migrante Alberta.

RELATED: Alberta NDP call for public inquiry into Olymel plant outbreak

The union representing workers says Filipinos are being blamed for an alleged potluck gathering, and they’re facing discrimination at work and in public.

“Some of the Filipinos are getting discriminated against because of this and it’s hurtful for them and hurtful for me as a Filipino,” said Catherine Lelis, Senior Labour Relations with UFCW Local 401.

The issues are all too familiar to workers who dealt with backlash last spring at the Cargill plant north of High River.

The Olymel plant is linked to over 500 cases, 48 are active.

The plant reopened last week after a temporary closure. It’s operating at half its usual capacity and will take a few weeks to return to normal.

But along with safety, groups argue staff weren’t fully paid during the shutdown – and some could lose more than money.

RELATED: Olymel facility given green light to reopen

“There are still many under the temporary foreign worker program in the plant and that might mean their status might be affected when they get terminated or laid off because of the shutdown,” said Luciano.

Olymel tells CityNews it’s working with the province’s health and occupation officials to keep the plant safe, it’s hosting mandatory training sessions for staff, but the union argues with 70 per cent Filipino staff, the company only offers that training in English.

“It’s very basic, interview the workers, what Olymel can do to make it safer for them to work. Get their perspective,” said Lelis.

Olymel and the province have reported three deaths linked to the plant, but the union says four people died, including the mother of a worker.