Beef workers union looking to hold strike vote over contract talks

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on November 4, 2021.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The union representing 2,100 workers at one of Alberta’s two major beef slaughterhouses is seeking to hold a strike vote to break an impasse at the bargaining table on a new contract.

The United Food and Commercial Workers, Local No. 401, at the Cargill plant in High River made the request this week to the Alberta Labour Relations Board.

That comes two weeks after a bulletin to members from union officials stated they felt Cargill was backtracking on proposals during a mediation process.

“If the company won’t move bargaining along, we will,” stated the letter, attributed to UFCW 401 president Thomas Hesse.

It also says further talks are scheduled on Nov. 9 and 10.

The previous contract expired at the end of 2020.

Grocery strike averted

Superstore employees ratified a new contract offer in province-wide voting last week, the UFCW announced on Nov. 1.

The nearly 9,000 members of the union employed with the grocer accepted the offer with 67% approval after they gave their bargaining committee a 97% strike mandate in September.

No details of the contract offer were released, but union officials state it removes concessions asked for by Loblaws.

“Superstore and Liquorstore employees made the decision to survive in a challenging economy and political landscape,” read a statement.

Officials also state the so-called “final offer” was approved by two thirds of members in Calgary and Edmonton regions, with voting in mid-sized and smaller centres reaching 75% in favour.

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