Following concerns raised about the impact job action by the BC General Employees’ Union could have on British Columbia’s meat industry, the Province has moved to classify meat inspectors as essential workers.
Commenting on the change, BC’s Minister of Agriculture and Food, Lana Popham, noted the critical role of Abattoirs to the sector and said she was “very pleased” to have worked with the BCGEU to “have provincial meat inspectors classified as essential workers during this round of job action.” Minister Popham commended the BCGEU’s willingness to collaborate and work together.
The new classification means meat inspectors are exempt from BCGEU job action and have returned to work.
BCGEU president Paul Finch recently told media outlets that he agrees with the change, noting that the Union does not have the power to designate employees as essential workers on it’s own, and the Province should have implemented the change before now.
