Food inspectors could face sanctions if they refuse reassignment to COVID-19-infected meat plants, union told
Source: CBC News
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The union representing Canada's food inspectors says Ottawa is threatening disciplinary action against employees who refuse to be reassigned to work at COVID-19-infected meat plants.
The Agriculture Union, which represents about 1,000 inspectors at slaughterhouses and meat processing facilities, said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) wants to redeploy employees who normally work in other areas to work in the meat sector, with only a brief training period.
If they refuse to become "instant" meat inspectors, they could face sanctions for insubordination, the union was told.
"What concerns me most is that people will be forced into these environments when they don't feel comfortable working in the slaughter establishments where there's a threat of COVID-19," union president Fabian Murphy told CBC News.