ADM Members Ratify New Agreement
May 6, 2018 – Calgary, AB – UFCW Local 401 members working at Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) in Calgary have voted by 78% to accept a new collective agreement. The deal comes after months of difficult negotiations with the US-based global food processing conglomerate.
“This mediated settlement was achieved with considerable effort and resolve by the union bargaining committee,” said lead union negotiator, Lee Clarke. “This is a very difficult employer, and they have kept us busy in litigation over the past couple of years. Bargaining for a new collective agreement was no less strained.”
Highlights of the four-year agreement include:
- Retroactive pay and wage increases in each year of the agreement;
- Improved provisions governing union voice and visibility in the workplace;
- Improved boot allowance; and
- Important language covering medical notes and employee sickness.
“ADM took a hard line on several issues, but the resolve of our committee was firm, and they successfully fought off numerous takeaways proposed by the company,” added Clarke. “The improvements to union rights in this workplace will go a long way towards not only keeping this company in check but also improving labour relations.”
“We want to congratulate our members at ADM on this hard-fought battle,” said UFCW Local 401 President, Doug O’Halloran, who was also involved in negotiations. “As companies become bigger and more defiant, we need to have the will and strength to stand our ground. This committee enabled their union to do just that.”
The union bargaining committee also was aided by the tireless efforts of Union Labour Relations Officer, Jeff Ible.
With more than 32,000 members in the retail, food and beverage processing industries, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401 is the largest private sector union in Alberta and part of the 1.3 million strong UFCW International Union. Local 401 members are involved in the sorting, grinding, mixing, and testing of a variety of grains at ADM’s Calgary facility.
Posted on: May 10,2018