Canadian Press
October 30, 2005
Alberta Minister to Check Packing Plant
EDMONTON -- Alberta's labour minister wants a first-hand look inside the Lakeside Packers slaughterhouse to check reports workers are sometimes forced to remain on the production line for hours without a break -- even if it means wetting their pants.
But Mike Cardinal says he won't set foot in the massive meat-packing plant in southeastern Alberta until after a bitter labour dispute is over.
"I hear rumours about people not being allowed to go to the bathroom,'' said Cardinal in an interview. "I guarantee you I will be touring these plants once everything is settled.''
Cardinal also said he won't consider making any changes to Alberta labour laws until the strike is settled. That effectively rejects the idea of quickly passing first-contract legislation to help settle the strike.
A first contract with U.S.-based plant owner Tyson Foods is exactly what the United Food and Commercial Workers union is trying to get for its members in the Lakeside dispute.
"The worst thing would be for government to step in or interfere in the negotiations,'' Cardinal said. "As the minister, I try to stay as much as possible hands-off of the situation.''
But the head of the union says Cardinal needs to take action before there is a call for a national boycott of Alberta beef processed at the plant.
Local president Doug O'Halloran said workers have been robbed of their dignity inside the Tyson plant near Brooks, Alta.
"We've been told by janitorial staff that on any given day, there's soiled underwear in the garbage because people haven't been able to make it to the bathroom,'' O'Halloran said from his motel near the picket line.
"We also had a worker come forward to say he had to work in his own urine because he couldn't go to the bathroom.''
A company spokesman dismissed such allegations and said they only surfaced after the strike began.
Gary Mickelson, who speaks for Tyson from the company's headquarters in Arkansas, said workers are treated with respect.
"Unions typically make sensational and misleading allegations against companies during labour disputes,'' said Mickelson. ``No one is denied access to the restroom.''
Alberta's opposition parties are demanding the government quickly pass first-contract legislation that would force an arbitrated settlement to the strike.
Cardinal said he's willing to look at unspecified changes to Alberta's labour code once the strike is settled, but suggested making changes now would signal the government is taking sides.
"Down the road we'll consider that,'' he said. "But in the meantime, we've offered mediation services all along.''
Liberal labour critic Dan Backs said Tyson is taking advantage of Alberta's labour laws and pro-business politicians.
"Not only are the labour laws here weak, they're weakly enforced,'' said Backs. "This dispute has become an open wound that's going to scar our reputation as a province.''
The strike has been marred by acts of violence that have sent three pickets to hospital. Dozens of RCMP officers have been called in to keep the peace.
Earlier this month, several company managers were charged after O'Halloran's truck was chased and forced off the road. Union members, including O'Halloran, have also been charged after picket line scuffles.
Cardinal said most labour disputes in Alberta are settled without strikes or violence and rejected any suggestion Tyson is taking advantage.
"I believe our labour laws are as good as any in North America,'' he said. "But that will be part of my tour in the future is to find out about some of these issues.
"If they're there, we can deal with them.''
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