“I’m very disappointed that nothing else comes out of the factory,” regrets the President of the Olymel union in Vallée-Jonction, Martin Maurice.
Although Prime Minister François Legault tweeted on April 14 that his government would be there to help workers find work or retrain, the good intentions were not to the union’s liking.
Even at the takeover, the government is interfering on the file, saying we’ll ask questions and see what happens with the sale, but we can’t get any more answers, adds Mr Maurice, who represents almost 1,000 employees.
But where is the government if we lose 1,000 jobs in the region, which will suffer greatly? Why isn’t the government putting pressure on when there are actually buyers who say, “Sell and we’ll find a solution to get it back”? It’s a disappointment there.
Martin Maurice, President of the Olymel workers’ union in Vallée-Jonction.
Photo: Radio Canada
It is difficult to calm the employees down
The aim of the general meeting was to dispel the employees’ fears about their future and to take stock of the situation in the plant since the closure was announced a month ago.
The union president says his team is doing everything it can to answer workers’ questions about unemployment, Services Québec, the reclassification committee and employer bonuses.
However, Martin Maurice would have liked to have expressed a little more optimism about a possible takeover of the factory.
We have no information and despite all the calls I’ve made, no one can confirm anything so I have no glimmer of hope for the workers, he concedes, adding that workers will have no choice but to move towards the reclassification leave The committee tries to reclassify as many people as possible and to ensure that everyone leaves the factory with their heads held high.
Foreign temporary workers taken on
Olymel confirms that 74 of the 123 foreign temporary workers have agreed to be transferred to either the L’Ange-Gardien plant in Montérégie or the Yamachiche plant.
Discussions are ongoing between the government and management of the affected factories as the workers’ work permits are tied to the Vallée-Jonction factory.
“We don’t know yet what we’re going to do,” says Nambi Andriniaina, a temporary foreign worker. We work with a closed work permit. If there’s a chance that Olymel can offer us a better job, we can do that. However, he is still waiting for news from Olymel. We are not sure. That’s what worries us.
Among the other staff members met, the unknown raises concerns for the next few months, but Saturday’s meeting will at least have provided some answers.
“I believe that with today’s meeting we are still reassured that the reclassification committee will lead many people towards a safer, less stressed and less anxious future,” said Jonathan Poulin, who has been with ‘Olymel for nearly 14 years.
He hopes to find a new job in the region and is open to an apprenticeship.
“I have ideas and places where I could put my name,” adds the day laborer, who also has knowledge as a Spanish translator.
Quebec defends itself
Labor Minister Kateri Champagne Jourdain has contested the union’s statements. According to her, the government was present in this file from the beginning.
The Minister of Labor and Minister responsible for the north coast, Kateri Champagne Jourdain
Photo: Radio Canada / Charles-Étienne Drouin
One-on-one interviews will begin on Monday to assist Olymel employees in their efforts to reclassify and find jobs, the minister said on Saturday.
“We were there four days after Olymel’s announcement. I was there and a month later we meet the staff. »
– A quote from Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Labor Minister
These meetings should be completed by June.
As for the possible takeover of the factory, Kateri Champagne Jourdain passed the ball back to Business Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon. As for the rest, he will get back to you with the rest of this file.
In collaboration with Felix Morrissette-Beaulieu