XL Foods – Brooks in crisis mode with 2,200 laid off workers

The mayor of Brooks in southern Alberta says the community is in crisis mode as it prepares for the human cost of troubles at the XL Foods beef plant.

Workers at the plant, which is at the centre of a beef recall and E. coli scare, have been laid off again as food safety officials review whether the meat packer can reopen.

Mayor Martin Shields says officials are helping displaced workers fill out employment insurance claims and get access to food banks.

He says Brooks may possibly offer some short-term financial help to make ends meet.

But he warns the community of 13,000 won’t be able to carry the financial load if layoffs continue a month or two down the road…

Choosen excerpts by JMM from

via Brooks in crisis mode as it struggles to help 2,200 laid off workers.