'A cautious relief:' COVID-19 vaccinations to begin at two Alberta meat plants

Jamie Welsh-Rollo was all smiles Thursday as COVID-19 vaccination clinics began at two of Canada's largest beef-packing plants in southern Alberta.

Welsh-Rollo, who is a union steward and works on the line packaging meat at Cargill, said there was an "air of excitement" inside the plant, which employs 2,200 people.

"It's really exciting to know we're all going to be protected and there hopefully isn't another outbreak here," she said, still wearing her face shield and a black hoodie with the words "Straight Outta Quarantine."

Plans for a clinic at Cargill had been put off last week when a vaccine shipment was delayed.

The Cargill plant, near High River south of Calgary, and the JBS Canada facility in Brooks were hit hard by COVID-19 outbreaks last year.

Nearly half of Cargill's workers tested positive last spring and the plant was shut down for two weeks.

JBS reduced operations to a single shift each day for a full month. It reported 650 cases among its 2,500 workers.

The two plants together process about 70 per cent of Canada's beef.

Called off the line

Welsh-Rollo said she's worked at Cargill since 2018 and the last year has been unsettling. She said she's been afraid of testing positive.

"I have a five-year-old son at home and I've been worried that he's going to get sick and, if he gets sick, then it's going to be awful for me because I don't like seeing my son with a cold, let alone, COVID," she said.

"In the last year I've been tested about six times because my son would get sick and I would get sick and it's crazy."

On Thursday, employees were being called off the line, 40 at a time, and taken upstairs for their shots. Welsh-Rollo was waiting outside to get her dose of Moderna and there was a long lineup from the middle of the plant all the way to the entrance.

"I'm off tomorrow because my son has an appointment, so I need to get in today for sure."

Ricardo de Menezes, southern director for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401, said vaccinations are an important part of worker safety.

"The virus spreads that much faster with the close proximity of the workers and the sort of atmosphere and environment that they work in," he said. "It's important to have as much protection for workers at Cargill and JBS and all the food-processing facilities as possible."

Any further delay, further risk

De Menezes said any further delay would put workers further at risk.

"We have seen cases of the variant at this plant. What do we do if another outbreak occurs?" he asked.

"They can't live without their paycheque."

Local 401 President Thomas Hesse said an overwhelming majority of members wanted early access to a safe vaccine.

"It's sort of a cautious optimism, a cautious relief."

Hesse said polls at Cargill indicate 70 to 80 per cent of workers are reasonably comfortable with receiving the vaccine, while others are somewhat hesitant.

It's not mandatory, he said, but he hopes most will decide to get a shot.

Hesse said it's important that Cargill and other employers make sure workplaces remain safe even after vaccinations. He said there finally seems to be a recognition that it's a serious workplace issue.

Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro announced earlier this week that vaccinations would happen for all meat-packing employees across the province.

They are to be offered to more than 15,000 workers at 136 federal and provincial plants.