Union suspends strike action as Viterra offers workers new four-year offer
The Canadian Press
Fri, January 5, 2024
REGINA — A looming strike action for Saskatchewan workers at Viterra has been suspended after the grain marketing giant gave the union a revised offer.
Two locals of the Grain and General Services Union say members should have the opportunity to vote on the new offer.
Workers rejected Viterra’s last offer after a vote on Dec. 15 and issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week.
A news release from Viterra says the new four-year agreement includes overall salary increases of 4.5 per cent in first year, followed by 3.75 per cent in the second and 2.5 per cent in the following years.
The company says employees will continue to be eligible for an annual bonus payment.
Viterra says a vote is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2023.
Union suspends planned strike at Viterra grain operations in Saskatchewan
Fri, January 5, 2024
By Rod Nickel
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) -The union representing more than 400 workers at Viterra's facilities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan suspended plans for a strike on Friday to allow for a vote on the Rotterdam-based grain handler's latest contract offer.
The Grain and General Services Union said in the period leading up to the vote, employees will work to rule, meaning they will not take on tasks beyond their contractual and legal obligations.
Viterra is one of Canada's largest handlers of wheat, canola and other crops. The company is owned by commodity giant Glencore, the investment arm of the Canada Pension Plan and British Columbia Investment Management Corp.
Saskatchewan is Canada's biggest grain-growing province.
Viterra said in a statement that it is offering a four-year contract, with pay increases of 4.5% in the first year, 3.75% in the second year and 2.5% in each of the final two years.
The worker vote will happen in the coming days and ballots will be counted on Jan. 19, the union said.
A strike would have a "huge impact" on farmers' cash flow, particularly those with contracts to sell crops to Viterra, said Ian Boxall, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.
Boxall said Viterra represents 27% of Saskatchewan's capacity at country elevators, the facilities that buy crops from farmers and transport them to processors and millers.
A strike would also back up grain transportation to British Columbia ports, which export much of Canada's harvest, Boxall said. Canada is the world's biggest exporter of canola and fourth-largest wheat exporter.
The two sides had met on Wednesday and Thursday with a federal mediator.
Workers were in strike position as of 3 p.m. ET (2000 GMT) on Friday. The employees work in operations, maintenance and the company's Canadian head office.
Bunge Ltd, a rival commodity firm, said last year that it would acquire Viterra, subject to regulatory approval in Canada and elsewhere.
(Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Paul Simao and Diane Craft)
Fri, January 5, 2024
By Rod Nickel
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) -The union representing more than 400 workers at Viterra's facilities in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan suspended plans for a strike on Friday to allow for a vote on the Rotterdam-based grain handler's latest contract offer.
The Grain and General Services Union said in the period leading up to the vote, employees will work to rule, meaning they will not take on tasks beyond their contractual and legal obligations.
Viterra is one of Canada's largest handlers of wheat, canola and other crops. The company is owned by commodity giant Glencore, the investment arm of the Canada Pension Plan and British Columbia Investment Management Corp.
Saskatchewan is Canada's biggest grain-growing province.
Viterra said in a statement that it is offering a four-year contract, with pay increases of 4.5% in the first year, 3.75% in the second year and 2.5% in each of the final two years.
The worker vote will happen in the coming days and ballots will be counted on Jan. 19, the union said.
A strike would have a "huge impact" on farmers' cash flow, particularly those with contracts to sell crops to Viterra, said Ian Boxall, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan.
Boxall said Viterra represents 27% of Saskatchewan's capacity at country elevators, the facilities that buy crops from farmers and transport them to processors and millers.
A strike would also back up grain transportation to British Columbia ports, which export much of Canada's harvest, Boxall said. Canada is the world's biggest exporter of canola and fourth-largest wheat exporter.
The two sides had met on Wednesday and Thursday with a federal mediator.
Workers were in strike position as of 3 p.m. ET (2000 GMT) on Friday. The employees work in operations, maintenance and the company's Canadian head office.
Bunge Ltd, a rival commodity firm, said last year that it would acquire Viterra, subject to regulatory approval in Canada and elsewhere.
(Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg and Shivani Tanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila, Paul Simao and Diane Craft)
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