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In Quebec’s fresh pork sector, Olymel management regrets to announce the definitive closure of its boning and packaging plant in Princeville, Centre-du-Québec. 301 employees are unfortunately affected by this decision and have been given 16 weeks’ notice of termination. The plant will cease operations on November 10. Of the 16 weeks of notice, 8 weeks will be worked until closure and the remaining 8 weeks will be paid out in a lump sum.
Olymel will shortly be rolling out a relocation plan that will allow employees of the Princeville plant who so desire to be relocated within the company to plants in the fresh pork sector or to any other facility with labour needs. In that case, years of seniority will be considered in order to determine pay and benefits, once the approval of the unions of the plants concerned has been obtained. The Olymel plant in Princeville also has 33 temporary foreign workers on staff. Olymel will work with federal and provincial authorities so those employees can apply for relocation to another Olymel facility.
“Today more than ever, it is necessary to continue to rethink our organization in order to optimize all of our activities. The fresh pork industry is slowly getting back on track after two years of tumult that forced us to reorganize our operations. We explored various avenues for the Princeville plant, but we found that its operations could be handled in our three slaughtering, cutting and boning plants, namely in St-Esprit, in the Lanaudière region, in Yamachiche, in Mauricie and in Ange-Gardien, in Montérégie West. It is with reluctance that we announce today the permanent closure of the Princeville factory. This decision, difficult but necessary, is part of Olymel's desire to continue our efforts to return to profitability in the sector, for the benefit of our entire organization,” said Yanick Gervais, President and CEO of Olymel.
In March 2022, the former pork slaughtering and cutting plant was repurposed, and operations shifted to value-added activities. Olymel will announce its plans for the disposition of Princeville plant facilities and land at a later date.
September 13, 2023 - Olymel
