1,000 Cargill Employees Walk Out in Protest After Rejecting Proposed Offer

Amidst a deluge of rain, approximately 1,000 employees at a Guelph meat processing plant have commenced strike action.

Braving the inclement weather, workers at Cargill’s Dunlop Drive facility were spotted on Monday morning, equipped with signs, parkas, and umbrellas, demanding better terms from their employer.

Sam Caetano, the regional director for UFCW’s Region 6, disclosed that a mediated settlement was reached last week, offering yearly increases over a four-year period. However, this proposal was resoundingly rejected by 82.4% of union members during a Sunday vote.

Represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 175 and 633, the workers initiated the strike at 12:01 a.m. Monday, citing dissatisfaction with the proposed agreement’s financial terms.

Explaining the workers’ perspective, Caetano highlighted the financial strain faced by many employees, who struggle to sustain their standard of living amidst inflation, rising fuel costs, and stagnant government policies on interest rates.

Workers express a sentiment that both the government and the Bank of Canada fail to grasp their financial challenges, advocating for a more substantial pay raise to maintain their lifestyles.

Approximately 30 to 40 members convened at midnight to prepare signs and organize, with the remaining workers joining the picket lines on Monday morning.

According to Caetano, picketing operations are well-coordinated, with instructions given to maintain one side clear for safety and to facilitate the passage of trucks to the Waste Resource Innovation Centre and its adjacent facility.

Following an impasse at the bargaining table, a no board report was filed a couple of weeks ago, signaling a formal deadlock between the two parties.

As of now, no meetings are scheduled between the union and the employer, leaving the situation in limbo.

While workers at Cargill’s Watson Parkway site continue their regular duties, those at Dunlop plan to picket seven days a week with varying hours until an agreement is reached.

Cargill issued the following statement via email:

“We are disappointed by this outcome. Our proposed agreement, which the union bargaining committee unanimously recommended as a comprehensive proposal, honors the tremendous skill and dedication of our Guelph workforce in feeding families across Canada. We are concerned about the hardships this labour disruption will pose to our employees and our customers. We will be working with the union on next steps once we hear more from them.

“While we navigate this labour disruption, we will shift production to other facilities within our broad supply chain footprint to minimize any disruptions to our customers.”