The recent announcement of the closure of the Olymel plant on rue Saint-Jacques in Saint-Hyacinthe comes as a surprise and has caused great disappointment among employees.
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“Losing your job is never good news. It’s a great time of uncertainty for workers!” Roxane Larouche, spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW) union, said in an interview.
This plant, which will close permanently next February, has 107 employees, many with 40 years or more experience.
“You were in shock yesterday [jeudi, jour de l’annonce par la compagnie]’ added Ms. Larouche, who had absolutely not expected such a decision.
About 60 layoffs were made this summer at this plant, which served as a smelter, storage and packaging facility for pork products. According to the UFCW spokesman, these staff cuts gave the impression that the restructuring was complete.
The maskoutaine Louise Laliberté, who we met during our visit to Saint-Hyacinthe on Friday, was giving an online class to her friend when her husband announced the closure of his factory as soon as he got back from work.
“He worked there for more than 30 years. My friend was completely surprised. It’s an important income in her situation,” she confided.
This sudden closure reminds her of the Olymel factory in Saint-Simon where she lived at the time and which had caused a lot of noise.
Reclassification Committee
The employer offers workers to transfer them to nearby factories, namely Saint-Damase, Sainte-Rosalie, Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-Rouville and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu or elsewhere, on the same terms.
The UFCW calls for the establishment of an outplacement committee that can negotiate to maximize the benefits for workers.
“The closure of the Saint-Hyacinthe plant is part of a difficult but necessary and responsible effort to bring the fresh pork sector back to profitability,” said Yanick Gervais, Olymel’s President and CEO, in a press release on Thursday.
“I think of the 107 workers who are losing their jobs. It is sad! These are well-paid jobs,” Saint-Hyacinthe Mayor André Beauregard commented on Friday.
Wage increases and bonuses were granted in February 2022. Upon hiring, a production worker earned $20.50 to $27.70, depending on their grade.
“They were nice increases,” says Ms. Larouche.
student campus?
Soil surveys conducted this summer had raised some suspicions about possible changes or plans. Information is currently circulating that the factory premises are to be turned into a student campus.
“That wouldn’t be surprising!” the mayor told us, indicating that there are educational institutions nearby.
He believes that the land for this factory, which was founded more than 50 years ago, will be in great demand on the market.
Students like Joëlle Remy welcome the disappearance of this factory near where they study.
“The facility produced a raw meat smell that wasn’t very pleasant,” the veterinary student told us.