A busy week at Cargill

It was a busy week at Cargill as we continue preparing for bargaining!

Touring the Plant

On Tuesday of last week, I went on a tour of the Plant with Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart and several other union representatives. Did you see us in our purple smocks and hard hats as we made our way through various areas?

I have to tell you; it was so good to be in the Plant and connect with you. I’ve found it very challenging not to be able to engage with our members like we’re used to doing during this global pandemic.

I want you to know that your union cares and is there for you during these challenging times. And the best way to do that is to come to your workplace and show you that we are there for you.

It meant a lot to me to wave to so many of our hard-working Cargill union members as I walked through the Plant. It was also critical to see the conditions in which you are working.
Your Union Labour Relations Officer, Joe Attwood, sees you every day. But it’s really important for Richelle and I to get that firsthand experience as we make our way into negotiations to get you a fair contract.

Handing out Valentine’s Day chocolates
And while it was bitterly cold outside, we were also excited to be back at the Plant the next day to speak to you during the afternoon shift change.

We were handing out packages with Valentine’s Day chocolates, hard hat stickers, and important union information. Hopefully, I had the chance to exchange a few words with you as you hurried to your vehicle or the Plant (and I tried not to shiver too loudly)!

Members are at the heart of our union. And it doesn’t matter if its -30 or +30 outside, we are going to do whatever we need to do to let you know that we’ve got your back!

That’s especially important as we move closer to negotiations.

Bargaining with Cargill

I know we are going to have a fight on our hands with Cargill. But I also know that we’re all up to that fight. I’m ready to stand with you to demand fair wages, better benefits, and improved safety protocols in the Plant!

We will have an update about your Bargaining Committee coming out soon, as well as information about ways that Cargill members can help us speak with a strong and united voice at the bargaining table.

This round of negotiations is so important. We know how much you’ve been through over the past year. And we are ready to make sure that your contributions and sacrifices are recognized by Cargill.

Our time is now.

I want to echo comments that your Lead Negotiator, Devin Yeager, made previously and promise you that this round of bargaining will be the most open, transparent, and engaging you have ever seen.

This is our fight, and we all need to be in it to win the victories you deserve.

There will be opportunities for every Cargill union member to get involved in bargaining, and I urge you to take advantage of those opportunities! Stay engaged and up to date with what is happening in negotiations. And be on the lookout for ways you can send Cargill the message that it’s time to treat their employees with dignity and respect!

While it has been a tough year, I am confident that we can emerge from bargaining stronger than ever – and with a contract that we can all be proud of.

I promise you that your union is ready to put everything we have into this fight. Are you with us?

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401 is Alberta’s largest private-sector union with 32,000 members working in diverse sectors of the Alberta economy, including food processing, retail, education, entertainment, healthcare, and hospitality.

Posted on: February 15,2021