Olymel will not appeal the decision of the Superior Court of Québec in the matter of the St-Simon plant

ST-HYACINTHE, QC, Aug. 10, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - After a careful examination of the judgment handed down by Judge Jean-François Buffoni of the Superior Court of Québec for the District of Montreal on July 31, dismissing the application by Olymel for a judicial review of the decision by arbitrator Claude H. Foisy in the matter of the closing of the St-Valérien and St-Simon pig slaughterhouse and butchering complex in April 2007, and after submitting the decision to its attorneys, the Olymel executive has announced its intention not to appeal. The Olymel executive thus takes note of the Court's decision to reject its originating motion for judicial review filed on September 17, 2014, a recourse it believes it exercised in good faith in the circumstances. It will be recalled that the decision rendered by arbitrator Foisy in August 2014 granted part of the six grievances filed by the Syndicat des travailleurs d'Olympia (CSN).

Toward a settlement

Olymel also wishes to make it known that it has informed union officials representing the former employees of the plant in St-Simon, who are members of the Syndicat des travailleurs d'Olympia, of its willingness to open talks with a view to reaching a settlement of this dispute that would satisfy both parties. These discussions should focus mainly on setting a figure that would represent financial compensation corresponding to the period in question, from April 20 to October 16, 2007. It should be noted that an estimate of such a figure was not included in the August 2014 decision by arbitrator Claude H. Foisy, as Judge Buffoni also pointed out. The Olymel executive hastens to add that, as the union leaders themselves have acknowledged publicly, the figure of $14 million that was circulated in the media is thus not based on any actual evaluation and does not reflect an estimate of factors that might be used to establish this figure. Therefore, this figure can under no circumstances form a basis for discussions between the parties. The Olymel executive would like these discussions to be constructive and serve to put an end to this dispute.

About Olymel

Olymel L.P. is Canada's leader in the production, processing and distribution of pork and poultry meats. The company has made feeding the world its mission, which it pursues passionately with products of impeccable quality. In carrying out its mission every day, Olymel relies on its tradition of maintaining a strong link between farm and table, as well as on innovation and attention to customer and consumer needs. The company employs close to 10,000 persons, including more than 7,000 in Quebec, and has large facilities in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan. Olymel exports nearly a third of its total sales, mainly to the United States, Japan and Australia, as well as over 60 other countries. Its annual sales are on the order of 2.8 billion dollars.

SOURCE Olymel l.p.

Richard Vigneault, Corporate Communications, [phone], [phone]