Maple Leaf Foods consolidating plants: More than 800 Unionized employees to be affected


MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Nov. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At a meeting on Monday, November 26, Maple Leaf Foods announced plans to consolidate its Ontario plants by 2022.

This consolidation will result in the closure of two existing plants where employees are represented by Local 175 of the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW). Currently, these facilities employ approximately 485 Union members at the St. Marys plant and 324 in Brampton.  In addition, the Company will close a third plant in Toronto whose unionized employees are represented by UFCW Local 1006A.

The Company announced further news that a new facility in London, Ontario will be established to take the place of the plants slotted to close. Information provided to the employees indicated that the Company intends to open the new facility in the spring of 2021. The St. Marys plant is scheduled to close late 2021 with the Brampton plant closing by mid to late 2022.

“These plants employ a lot of people in good paying, unionized jobs,” said Shawn Haggerty, President of UFCW Local 175. “While adding the London facility will be good for that city, this announcement is bad news for St. Marys and Brampton. It will be difficult for the workers and their families, as well as those communities.”

Employees at the two affected plants process poultry.

The Union has requested to meet with the Company to discuss the closures and the impact on the workers, including severance entitlements.

“The Union will push the Company to minimize the impact of this closure and ensure the most benefit possible to our Members.” Said President Haggerty.

UFCW Locals 175& 633 represent over 70,000 workers in all workplace sectors including Industrial Manufacturing, Automotive Parts, Retail, Meat and Poultry.

For more information please contact:

Tim Deelstra
Engagement & Media Relations
226-750-4366
media@ufcw175.com