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2012-10-10 at 16:27
Union sounds off
By The Canadian Press
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Jeff McIntosh, Canadian Press
The XL Foods cattle processing plant is shown in Brooks, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012. Food safety officials are reviewing a report on a pre-inspection of the Alberta beef plant that is closed over E. coli concerns.
BROOKS, Alta. - The union for workers at an Alberta beef packer shut down over E. coli concerns says better training and work conditions are required to ensure meat is safe.
Doug O'Halloran, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401, says the speed of the processing line at the XL Foods plant in Brooks is too fast.
He says that has led to shorter times in which to make sure equipment and meat is clean.
O'Halloran says the plant's increasing reliance on temporary foreign workers is also a problem.
He says the company has not worked with the union to ensure the workers are properly trained and know what their rights are.
The union boss says whistleblower protection is important for the workers who are afraid to speak out about problems.
 © The Canadian Press, 2013
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