About 200 workers will be needed, half of which will come from ACA’s New Minas plant, which will close when Berwick opens. Some of the 96 unionized workers laid off from ACA in December 2009 will be recalled, as well. Those who chose severance in 2009 will have to apply along with any other interested workers.
Eden Valley Poultry has two shareholders – United Poultry Producers and Ontario’s Maple Lodge Holdings. Blenkharn said all active members of ACA are also part of the United Poultry company.
Radio-canada.ca is reporting the opening of the Eden Valley plant could lead to the closure of Maple Lodge’s Nadeau plant in northern New Brunswick. When asked if New Brunswick workers could transfer to Berwick, Blenkharn said it had not been discussed.
ACA update
Blenkharn confirmed ACA Co-operative made a court application in December to change its corporate structure from a co-operative to an incorporated company.
He said the move was “to create a better corporate structure for investment and growth of the business.”
He did not say when the conversion might take place. Although ACA’s chicken processing plant will close this summer, it still has a hatchery, egg grading and feed divisions.
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