UFCW refuses to defend meatpackers as Alberta government approves reopening of COVID-stricken Olymel plant
Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) government greenlighted the re-opening of slaughterhouse and meatpacking operations at Olymel’s Red Deer plant this past Thursday and Friday even as a virulent COVID-19 outbreak continues to plague the 1,850 low-wage workers at the pork processing facility.
At least 515 workers have been infected by the virus since mid-November when the outbreak began.
The plant is reopening with at least 91 COVID-19 cases still active among the workforce. Four deaths have resulted from the outbreak, including three in the weeks leading up to and during a two-week plant shutdown that began in mid-February. Several other workers remain severely sickened by the virus.
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Alberta Health Services disciplines hundreds of workers who joined wildcat strike
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has suspended at least 27 workers for up to five days and issued disciplinary letters to hundreds more for participating in a province-wide wildcat strike last October. Seven-hundred-and-seventy-one workers have filed grievances against the management action, and other workers who also received letters are expected to soon follow suit.
The AHS, which is an arm of Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP)-led government, has also reported at least 8 nurses to the provincial body which regulates the nursing profession in the province. This could ultimately jeopardize their right to work in Alberta as licensed nurses.
Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Alberta on Tuesday, March 2
Alberta may follow British Columbia s lead and lengthen the time between administering first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines, Health Minister Tyler Shandro said Tuesday, a day after officials announced the province would move to a modified version of Step 2 of easing restrictions.
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Posted: Mar 02, 2021 10:36 AM MT | Last Updated: March 3
The Alberta government says low-intensity exercises include weightlifting, low-intensity dance classes, yoga, barre and indoor climbing, as well as the low-intensity use of treadmills, ellipticals and related equipment. Masks must still be worn.(Steven Senne/AP/The Canadian Press)