APAS urges Nilsson Brothers and UFCW to reopen XL Beef Plant in Moose Jaw
March 29, 2010
(Regina) The Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) is calling on both sides of the ongoing labour dispute at the XL Beef Plant in Moose Jaw to return to the bargaining table to resolve their differences and enable the re-opening of the plant.
Employees at XL Beef have not worked at the plant since April 2009, when XL Foods Inc. issued layoff notices to its entire staff of approximately 200 employees from the Moose Jaw facility. In September 2009, XL Foods sent out a release to its local employees stating that due to the inability to reach a collective agreement with the Moose Jaw plant's workers’ union, the company was issuing a lockout notice for XL Beef.
“The Moose Jaw facility – the only federally inspected beef slaughter plant in Saskatchewan – is very important to Saskatchewan cattle producers. Without a facility of this type in the province, Saskatchewan ranchers are facing a significant cost disadvantage,” said Norm Nordgulen, Chair of APAS’ Livestock Committee. “The eventual re-opening of this plant will be good news for cattle producers and for the city of Moose Jaw.”
Nordgulen, a farmer and rancher in the southwest part of the province, was pleased to hear that the XL Beef Plant in Moose Jaw slaughtered a few animals late in March in order to maintain its federal license. However, the plant is not scheduled to reopen at this time. According to news reports quoting United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1400 president Norm Neault; plant managers slaughtered only five cattle on Thursday, March 25 to allow Canadian Food Inspection Agency workers to license the plant for another year.
APAS President, Greg Marshall discussed the matter with Brian Nilsson, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Nilsson Brothers, owners of the XL Plant, in order to learn more about the current situation. Marshall says he and other members of the Board spoke to a large number of livestock producers at last week's annual general meeting who are eager to see the province's only federally inspected beef slaughter plant reopen quickly. Marshall was encouraged by the company’s eagerness to ultimately reopen the plant.
“We are encouraged by the fact that XL Foods is still seeking federal certification, which seems to demonstrate an intention to reopen the plant,” said Marshall. “On behalf of our province’s livestock producers, we encourage both sides of the dispute to sit down together and work out their differences.”
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For more information
Greg Marshall, APAS President
Tel: 306-789-7774 (ext 151)
Cell: 306-747-7747
Email: president@apas.ca
Norm Nordgulen, APAS Livestock Committee Chair
Tel: 306-642-4961