(Montreal) The announcement of the upcoming closure of the Vallée-Jonction slaughterhouse by Olymel management on Friday morning sent shockwaves through both the unions and the political class.
The Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) reacted strongly with a press release. “The stubbornness between Olymel and Quebec pork producers is causing the permanent closure of the largest pork slaughtering and cutting plant in Quebec, located in Vallée-Jonction, resulting in the loss of more than 1,000 jobs,” said we denounced.
Olymel Vallée-Jonction – CSN Workers’ Union President Martin Maurice claimed that “Olymel’s senior management will have despised us until the end” by asking workers to stay on until the closure final from the factory.
The president of the CSN, Caroline Senneville, for her part stressed that the families and the Beauce community “will pay the price for this mess”. She attributes it directly to the failure of negotiations between Quebec pig farmers and Olymel, which were supported by the government-appointed conciliator, Raymond Bachand, former Quebec finance minister. “After investing 150 million of public money in Olymel in May 2021, the government of François Legault is abandoning an entire region at the mercy of a company that multiplies bad business decisions,” she continued.
For its part, the Union of Agricultural Producers (UPA) considers that the closure of the factory is a “decision contrary to the efforts, investments and sacrifices of the breeders”. The agricultural sector union is calling on the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) to carry out a neutral and independent diagnosis of the situation prevailing in the pork sector.
“The province’s hog producers are among the most successful on the planet and have shown exemplary resilience in exceptionally difficult circumstances in recent years. They have also proudly responded to repeated calls for the adoption of ever more sustainable practices and the conquest of global markets. Today’s announcement is the opposite of the efforts, investments and sacrifices of breeders. They deserve better, period,” said UPA General President Martin Caron, calling the closure “sad news.”
On its Facebook page, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New Beauce shared its “tremendous disappointment” to learn of the closure of the local factory and made itself available to companies affected by this decision.
“The closure of Olymel in Vallée-Jonction is a great loss for our region. The economic benefits of this announcement are major in our territory. Many people are losing their jobs today and all the companies that revolve around Olymel will be negatively impacted. […] It is a blow for the region and mutual aid and support is essential in these situations, ”said Chantal Gravel, president of the CCINB.
“My thoughts are with all the employees at the Olymel plant in Vallée-Jonction. We are going to be there to support workers in finding a job or requalifying,” tweeted Prime Minister François Legault.
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec, André Lamontagne, also posted a word of empathy on Twitter. “Today, we are with the workers of Olymel. The pork sector is facing a difficult context; the announcement is part of a complex restructuring. Soon, news will come to ensure the sustainability of the sector. A lot of meetings have taken place to coordinate the follow-up,” he said.
His colleague at Employment, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, said she was “wholeheartedly with the workers of Olymel. The Minister indicates that she has requested “the rapid establishment of a Reclassification Assistance Committee” and that she is in contact with the MP for Beauce-Nord, Luc Provençal in the search for solutions to support the workers.
For his part, the Liberal MP for Pontiac, André Fortin, also the official opposition critic for agriculture, fisheries and food, added to this “appalling” news.
“While the industry is in crisis, factories are closing, producers are ceasing their activities and others are abandoning their projects, Minister Lamontagne refuses to intervene. Our pork producers are completely abandoned by the CAQ government. The closure of this Olymel plant will represent thousands of dollars in additional transportation costs for producers in the region, who will now have to direct their animals to more distant slaughterhouses. What is the minister going to tell them, these people? ” did he declare.
The PQ MP for Matane-Matapédia Pascal Bérubé said “wholeheartedly with the workers of this factory. Losing your job is always a sad and destabilizing event. The [Quebec government] has announced its support for the community and I wish a bright future in this region to the families affected,” he tweeted.
On Twitter, a former executive advisor to the deputy minister’s office at MAPAQ and former Liberal candidate in La Peltrie in 2014, France Gagnon, instead attacked the CSN, which allegedly led the workers “on a strike until ‘endian! And the workers accepted that. Here’s the bill: plant shut down! »
“The slaughterhouse is in dire need of renovation and updating. Why would Olymel invest in the company that has caused it the most trouble over the past few years with an all-out strike! Good luck to the employees in finding such paying jobs. Bravo CSN,” she also quipped, adding that the factory workers “are not much sought after by other Beauce contractors, precisely because of their claiming side! »
