Getting Ready At Olymel…
Our Strength Is in Each Other!
Olymel members join UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart at the annual Solidarity barbecue.
As UFCW Local 401 prepares for upcoming bargaining at Olymel, Superstore and Cargill, we are focusing on what matters most to members: fair wages, safe working conditions, respect on the job and a stronger voice at work.
After bargaining at Safeway, we are looking ahead to the work still to come. Strong bargaining takes preparation, member involvement and solidarity.
“Every bargaining campaign starts with the members. Their experiences, their concerns and their priorities need to guide the work we do at the table. When we stand together, we are in a stronger position to fight for the improvements workers deserve,” says UFCW 401 President Thomas Hesse.
Who Is Olymel?
Olymel is a major Canadian meat processor owned by Sollio Cooperative Group, a Quebec-based agricultural co-operative. Its Red Deer pork processing plant, the company’s only pork processing facility in Western Canada, has a long history of union representation dating back decades before Olymel acquired it in 2001.
The Red Deer plant typically processes approximately 8,500 hogs per day, which equals about 42,500 hogs a week,making it a major part of Olymel’s Canadian operations. After facing significant financial losses during the pandemic, the company has made a strong recovery. In 2025, Olymel reported nearly $4.9 billion in sales and $262.1 million in earnings before patronage refunds and income taxes, up from $183 million in 2024.
A Long History of Standing Together
The history of the Red Deer plant is also a history of workers standing up for themselves and one another. In 1986, workers at the plant, then operating under the Fletcher name, took part in a 19-day strike. The dispute was difficult, but solidarity helped workers reach a settlement. The strike was followed by a lengthy lockout, during which the union continued to fight against proposed changes to wages and working conditions.
These events are a reminder that the rights and protections workers have today were built through collective action. They also show why member involvement remains so important whenever a new round of bargaining approaches.
Olymel workers from the maintenance crew on weekends standing together.
Health and Safety Must Come First
For UFCW 401, workplace health and safety means making sure workers can do their jobs without putting their health at risk. The recent Parkland Institute report, Essential and Expendable: How Alberta’s COVID-19 Response Failed Cargill Workers, examined the devastating 2020 COVID-19 outbreak at Cargill’s High River plant and raised serious concerns about workplace protections and the response from health and safety authorities.
The report is a reminder of what can happen when workers’ concerns are not adequately addressed. During the outbreak, more than 950 workers tested positive for COVID-19, and two UFCW 401 members and four close contacts died. The findings reinforce why workers need effective protections, a voice in health and safety decisions and employers who take their responsibilities seriously.
“Workers should never have to choose between earning a living and protecting their health. Our members raised concerns during the outbreak, and this report reinforces why those concerns must be taken seriously. We will continue to stand with workers and push for safer working conditions,” says Hesse.
UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse talking to the media in front of the Olymel plant in 2021 at -40C
These concerns are not limited to Cargill. In 2021, Hesse led a protest outside the Olymel plant in Red Deer in extreme cold, with temperatures reaching -40°C, and spoke to the media about workers’ concerns. The protest drew public attention to the issues facing Olymel workers and showed the importance of speaking out when workplace concerns need to be addressed.
From Cargill to Olymel, UFCW 401’s work shows why workers must have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their health and safety. As the union prepares for upcoming bargaining, members’ experiences will help identify the issues that need attention and the improvements workers want to see.
“Solidarity means listening to one another, supporting co-workers and making sure no member feels they have to stand alone. The experiences of workers at Cargill and Olymel show why it is so important to speak up, stand together and push for safer workplaces. Every voice matters, and every member has a role to play,” says UFCW Local 401 Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart.
Bargaining Starts with Members
A couple of weeks ago, approximately 300 Olymel members came together in Red Deer for a proposal meeting that felt like an old-school union meeting. Members showed up, shared their concerns and helped shape the priorities that will guide the upcoming round of bargaining. The strong turnout was a reminder that workers understand the importance of having a say in their future and standing together to make their voices heard.
With Olymel’s current collective agreement set to expire on January 31, 2027, this kind of member involvement is an important part of getting ready for the work ahead. Proposal meetings give members the opportunity to talk about the issues that matter most, from wages and benefits to health and safety and working conditions.
“When 200 members come together to share ideas and talk about their future, it sends a powerful message. Our strength comes from our members, and their voices will help shape the priorities we bring to the bargaining table,” says Stewart.
The message is clear: bargaining starts with members. By showing up, speaking out and supporting one another, Olymel workers are helping build a stronger foundation for the negotiations ahead.
More than 300 Olymel workers attended the bargaining proposals meeting a couple of weeks ago in Red Deer.
Show Your Solidarity
Across UFCW 401, members are working toward safer workplaces, fair treatment and better working conditions. As we prepare for the next round of bargaining, we need to keep supporting one another and ensuring workers’ voices are heard.
Our history shows what workers can accomplish when they stand together. From past labour disputes to today’s workplace campaigns, solidarity has helped members protect their rights and push for improvements. As we look ahead to bargaining at Olymel, Superstore and Cargill, let’s keep that spirit going.
Stay informed, get involved and stand with your fellow union members.
Posted on: October 14,2026