Staff at XL Foods shocked by layoffs

Staff and union officials attached to the embattled XL Foods meat processing plant in Alberta expressed shock after the company said Saturday it is temporarily laying off almost all of its employees 2,000 out of approximately 2,200.

"The employees have a fear, they don't understand what isgoing on," said Abdi Nasir Guir, a worker at the Brooks, Alta. plant which remains at the centre ofan international beef recallbecause of E. coli contamination.

"So many people today were crying because they have car payments, they have mortgages. Even if you ask how long is it going to be closed here they don't tell you, they don't have a date, that's the biggest problem we are having," he added.

'CFIA has not provided a definitive timeline for relicensing of the Brooks, Albertafacility. It is this uncertainty that has forced the temporary layoffs.' XL Foods

The head of the union representing workers at the plantsaid hewas alsosurprised.

"I thought we were back on track," said Doug O'Halloran, president of United Food and Commercial WorkersLocal 401, citing recent positive remarks from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and XL Foods.

"The CFIA was saying how everything was goodand[one of the owners] was in the paper there saying, 'You know, it's going to be business as usual, we've got everything done,'" he said.

"We were expecting a few layoffs, but there was no way we anticipated that we'd have everybody laid off."

The CFIA suspended the licenceof the Brooks plant on Sept. 27three weeks after tests by U.S. and Canadian officials first found E. coli in beef from the facilityafterit determined that deficiencies identified earlier in Septemberhad not been corrected.

Officials have not said when the plant can reopen.

"CFIA has not provided a definitive timeline for relicensing of the Brooks, Alberta facility," said XL Foods in a statement on Saturday."It is this uncertainty that has forced the temporary layoffs."

O'Halloran saidthe layoffs could be the company's way of speeding up the"multi-stage assessment process" currently underway at the plant.

But some employees might have to look for work elsewhere, he added.

"I can only imagine the thoughts that are going through their minds, that they may have to look at moving someplace in order to get another job initially," he said.

O'Halloran said he has been on the phone to his Toronto office to find out who can come and assist the workers withtheir next steps,like filling outEmployment Insurance forms.

Uncertain future

The layoffs cast doubt on the plant's immediate future. The CFIA says it will be unable to complete its review of the plant's proceduresuntil work resumes.

"The speed at which XL Foods begins normal operations is solely dependent on their ability to demonstrate that they can produce safe food," the agency said in a statement. "We are ready to continue our assessment as soon as the company resumes activities."

On Thursday, the Brooks plant was allowed to resume limited meat processing under CFIA supervision. The agency said it verifiedappropriate cleaning and sanitization practices have taken placeand that other maintenance problems such as drainage, condensation and ice buildup on freezer doors have been addressed.

XL Foods co-CEO Brian Nilsson said the company is committed to the best interests of the cattle industry, theiremployees, the City of Brookswhich has a population of roughly 13,500 people and "all affected by the idling of the Brooks facility."

Meanwhile, authorities confirmed three more E. coli cases have been linked to the Brooks plant, one in Quebec and two in B.C., bringing the total number of cases to 15.

According to the CFIA, more than 1,800 beef products have been recalled. CFIA expanded its recall again Friday night to include some beef products sold in Ontario and Quebec. Details can be found onCFIA's website.

Calls for inquiry

Jason Hale, the Wildrose Party MLA for the Stathmore-Brooks riding, is among the politicians calling for an investigation.

"The number one priority for all parties involved, including at CFIA and at XL Foods, needs to be ensuring that all safety recommendations being put forward are conformed to," said Hale."We continue to ask for a full investigation to find out what went wrong to ensure safety and confidence in our beef industry is not compromised again."

Alberta's NDP leader Brian Mason also pushed again for a provincialinquiry, slammingPremier Alison Redford for rejecting the idea.

"It's important that this provincial government speak up for good, solid inspection in the plant, and in the meat industry in general," he said."It's the best defense for our beef industry."

But Verlyn Olsen, Alberta's agricultural minister,said there is little the province can do because the matter is between XL Foods and the federal government.

"This is a an extremely important, and negative, development for the community in the short term," Olsen said ata press conference at the legislature in EdmontonSaturday afternoon.

He said the province understandsthesituation is tough on beef producers andon the Alberta beef brand.

Olsen said Service Canada will have people in Brooks on Monday to help laid-off workers with EI paperwork.