Participants Needed! Researchers undertake study of Alberta COVID-19 meat plant outbreaks

Dear UFCW Local 401 Members,

Alberta’s food workers have been greatly impacted by workplace outbreaks of COVID-19 since the Spring of 2020. As the union for Alberta’s food workers, we have been calling for independent investigations into these outbreaks in an effort to promote safer workplaces and to ensure the protection of our members’ workplace rights.

Recently, we partnered with a group of researchers looking into the causes and impacts of these outbreaks, and we want to ensure you are aware of an important opportunity to add your experiences and perspectives to this important research.

In our view, this is one of the most important studies being undertaken on this topic, and we endorse it and encourage all UFCW Local 401 members to participate. To demonstrate our support for this study, please see the below video message from UFCW Local 401 President, Thomas Hesse.

For further information on the study and how you can participate, please see the information below. You can also DOWNLOAD THE STUDY’S INFORMATION FLYER HERE.

In Solidarity,

UFCW Local 401

COVID-19 Outbreaks and Meat Processing Study

Were you affected by a COVID-19 outbreak in a meat processing facility? We need your help!

Who Are We?

We are a national team of healthcare researchers, doctors and community members committed to improving the health and healthcare of essential food industry workers, their families and communities affected by COVID-19.

What is the Study About?

Alberta’s beef processing facilities have faced two of North America’s largest and most rapid COVID-19 outbreaks. These outbreaks are not well understood and to prevent future outbreaks need to be studied. We aim to understand:

How the outbreaks spread and what happened?
How outbreaks impacted employees, their families, and communities?
What was the outbreak response? (What worked, what did not, what support you received, what challenges you faced?)

What would I have to do?

Complete an ONLINE 30 minutes survey AND/OR
1-hour VIRTUAL interview (password-protected Zoom meeting)
All information will be kept anonymous and confidential
Survey and interview participants will receive a gift card for their time

How do I sign up?

ONLINE Scan the QR Code or go to https://redcap.ucalgary.ca/surveys/index.php?s=MHDEMEXLPF
Once you’ve registered, you will be contacted by a study team member
Responses from people that don’t use the internet are just as important as those who do. If you prefer, our community team members will help you participate in your own language (please let us know – contact info below)

Need More Information?

Email: refugeehealthyyc@ucalgary.ca
Phone: 587-284-8581
Events:
- UFCW Local 401 Townhall – 7PM November 18^th, 2020
- Live Webinars: we will host three live 1-hour webinars with our doctors and experts to answer your questions about this study and COVID-19. Details will be available here: www.refugeehealthYYC.ca/COVID-19
- To join please go to: https://redcap.ucalgary.ca/surveys/index.php?s=MHDEMEXLPF