ADM Milling: Union Committee Tries to Break the Impasse
Your union bargaining committee was scheduled to meet for continued talks regarding your union contract renewal on February 11, 12, and 13. But after the second day meeting, it became clear that progress had stalled and wasn’t advancing as it should. As a result, your union committee decided to apply for government assistance, which will come in the form of a government-appointed Mediator.
What’s happening?
As we shared in our last update, the company arrived at the bargaining table with proposals that would take away important benefits, including personal days, severance, and Education Fund money. Their approach to our non-monetary proposals has been equally disappointing. Most of their responses to our proposals have been flat-out refusals to change the contract language.
After a lengthy discussion on the afternoon of February 11, your committee was eager to review the company’s written responses the following day. Unfortunately, when we finally received their responses near lunchtime on Day 2, our enthusiasm quickly faded. Out of about 20 responses to our comprehensive proposal, only 5 included a written position. Two of those responses were arguably worse than the existing contract language, while the rest simply stated that the company was “satisfied with the current language” or gave a similar non-committal reply.
Frustrated with the company’s lack of willingness to make meaningful changes, your committee decided to stop “spinning our tires in the snow” and seek outside help. We’ve applied for a government-appointed mediator to assist in moving the process forward.
What Does Conciliation/Mediation Mean?
Conciliation is a process where a neutral third party, the mediator, helps facilitate discussions between both sides. The mediator’s goal is to help us reach an agreement, avoiding the need for a strike vote or other more drastic measures. We hope this process will lead to a fair and reasonable contract renewal for everyone.
Watch this video explaining the federal conciliation/mediation process.
Looking Ahead: Strike Vote and the Path Forward
The company’s reaction to our decision to apply for conciliation has been less than constructive. They have repeatedly insisted, through multiple emails, that the Bargaining Committee return to work immediately.
However, your committee is fully committed to pushing forward to achieve the best deal possible for you, whether through mediation or, if necessary, a strike vote. We will provide more details about the potential for a strike vote in our next update.
Please take a moment to complete the 12-hour schedule survey we recently sent via email:
TAKE THE SURVEY NOW!
If you didn’t receive it via email, please contact your bargaining committee.
Stay tuned for further updates, and as always, feel free to reach out to the committee or Kyle through the union office with any questions.
Posted on: February 14,2025