Firm owned by Glencore, vote will be made concerning latest contract offers
The Grain and General Services Union (GSU), a labor union representing workers across Western Canada, has announced the suspension of the planned strike of more than 400 workers from Saskatchewan-based grain handling company Viterra, as reported in an article by Reuters.
Viterra is one of the largest handlers of wheat, canola, and other crops in Canada, and is owned by Glencore, the investment arm of the Canada Pension Plan and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation.
The union stated that the suspension was to allow for a vote to be made among its members regarding the final offer presented by the firm on January 4. In the period leading up to the vote, employees will work to rule.
GSU first issued the 72-hour strike notice last January 2, with the intent to strike as early as January 5 at two in the afternoon, following the union’s rejection of Viterra’s final offer on December 15.
Steve Torgerson, general secretary of the union, had previously stated that the strike will be underscoring the urgency and gravity of the negotiations surrounding issues of wages, work-life balance, and workplace respect for workers that has been going on for more than a year.
Officials from the union and the firm then scheduled further talks on January 3 and 4 in Regina along with a federally appointed mediator. Notably, Viterra had considered a lock-out for its employees if an agreement was not reached between the two parties.
In a statement, Viterra announced that it was now offering a four-year contract with a 4.5 percent pay increase in the first year, 3.75 percent in the second, and 2.5 percent in each of the final two years.
“Our officers understand the concerns and frustrations of our members,” says Torgerson in the union’s latest statement.
“The decision to suspend the strike action is a strategic move to give our members the chance to participate in the democratic process and have their voices heard through a ratification vote,” he adds.
The votes of the workers will be counted on January 19.
Last year, Bunge, a US-based agribusiness leader, agreed to pay over $8 billion to acquire Viterra’s assets, and is still subject to the federal government’s approval, as well as the companies’ shareholders.
