Prairie hog producers may be unconcerned about whether labor standards laws should apply to their operations, but many people in cattle country oppose more regulations.
“If they’re going to impose regulations, it’s going to make it worse, not better,” said Lanigan, Sask., feedlot operator Brad Wildeman. “You’re just going to scare more people out of the business.”
Saskatchewan is not reconsidering the labor standards act exemption that allows feedlot operators to operate outside its requirements. But the issue may come up during a policy review of what labor laws should cover hog barns.
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Wildeman said feedlots need more flexibility than the labor standards act allows. Hours of work vary greatly during the year, and forcing feedlots to follow regulations that govern most other industries could lead to more cycles of layoffs and re-hiring.
Alberta Cattle Commission manager Gary Sargent said the cattle industry doesn’t want to deal with regulations that could restrict its freedom.
“It’s just something that doesn’t work. It’s not a viable alternative,” he said.
Unions in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan don’t like the exemptions in labor standards laws that allow businesses such as hog barns and cattle feedlots to keep their employees outside the laws’ protection.
Sargent said the union unhappiness is “probably just one of the symptoms of the declining popularity of unions.”
Alberta Cattle Feeders Association manager Ron Axelson said feedlot operators have tried to keep employees happy by offering good benefits packages. His association has established a package policy that feedlot operators across the province can join.
Wildeman said his feedlot has low staff turnover because of good wages and good benefits.
“Having $6 an hour people doesn’t cut it when you’re trying to make a living doing this,” he said.
But he said Saskatchewan, which is examining its labor standards act exemptions, can’t afford to impose any regulations that would give neighboring provinces like Alberta an advantage.
“If it was a national program where Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario all had the same standards, it would not be a problem,” Wildeman said. “But if it came that we in Saskatchewan had regulations they didn’t have in Alberta, it would just kill us.”
