Cargill Strike in Guelph, Calgary Workers Vote Looms

Jun 04, 2024

The question is what impact these strikes will have on labour relations across the agriculture industry?

The strike at Cargill’s Dunlop facility in Guelph affecting over 1,000 workers began as of 12:01 a.m. on May 27, 2024.

This decision followed a vote three days prior where an overwhelming 82% of UFCW Local 175 members rejected the proposed settlement. The plant, known for its beef slaughtering operations, is now at a standstill, signaling significant disruptions in the supply chain.

Workers are contesting the cessation of a $2 hourly pandemic bonus and what is describes as the insufficient adjustment of wages to match the rising cost of living.

Looking ahead, the strike may extend to Cargill’s Case Ready plant in Calgary, where workers are set to vote on June 5-6, 2024.

This facility plays a vital role in preparing and packaging meat products and is crucial in keeping the distribution lines moving. Key issues for the Calgary workers include securing guaranteed working hours to ensure stable income amid fluctuating market demands.

The outcomes of these strikes are being closely watched, as they will likely influence labour relations strategies not only within Cargill but across the broader agricultural industry.

Video: Learning to Wrench From Dad the Hard Way

Harvest is a week out and the farm picked this week to fall apart. The truck needs a battery, the barn curtain's got a problem, and the corn and beans are telling us we're out of time to get it all fixed.

So it's a full day of wrenching. Tork supervises while I get the truck back running, then we're out at the hog barn where one rusted up part has the whole curtain system hung up. Ladder work, cable work, and a little dad-and-son disagreement about the right way to do it. We close it out walking the fields, shelling beans and checking corn, because whether everything's fixed or not, harvest starts when harvest starts.

Chapters: 00:00 Everything breaks the week before harvest 01:00 Tork supervises while I fix the truck 12:30 Out to the barn to find the curtain problem 14:30 One rusty part hung up the whole curtain 20:00 Running the curtain cable from the ladder 24:00 Walking the beans and corn before harvest 26:30 Wrapping up

We're a 6th generation family farm in southeast Iowa showing the real ups and downs of pig farming and row crop farming. No script, just the work. Subscribe and follow along.

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