Statement On Cargill Workforce Reduction Announcement
Earlier today, news outlets began reporting on a Cargill announcement around a global workforce reduction.
What this means is that Cargill has confirmed it will be shrinking its overall workforce by 5% across all of its global operations.
Your union acted quickly to investigate this announcement and determine what if any impacts the announcement might have on your jobs.
“The last thing any of our members need right now is uncertainty about their job security,” says Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “We are all still wrestling with an unprecedented affordability crisis. Our local union’s focus is on protecting and improving the wages, benefits, and working conditions of our members.”
“Cargill union members work incredibly hard,” adds Union Labour Relations Officer Faduma Ahmed, who represents and advocates for workers at the High River Plant. “We didn’t want this news weighing on their minds as they came home from a long and exhausting shift. So, we immediately worked to ask some hard questions and get whatever answers we were able to from the Company.”
See below for a media statement released moments ago from President Thomas Hesse on the situation:
MEDIA STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
President Hesse comments on Cargill announcement, opposes any workforce reductions or loss of jobs
December 3, 2024
CALGARY — Thomas Hesse, President of UFCW Local 401, the union representing almost 2,500 Cargill workers at two plants in High River and Calgary, has issued the following statement concerning Cargill’s preliminary announcement of a global workforce reduction.
“Our representation of Cargill workers is constant and unrelenting. We stood between them and the largest workplace COVID-19 outbreak in North America demanding that their employer do the right thing and protect its workers.
Cargill workers have a union contract, and as such, there are a variety of job protections and rules around workforce reduction to which Cargill must adhere. Additionally, principles of seniority come to bear on a situation like this, further protecting Cargill workers.
We are in the process of asking hard questions and conducting an investigation into this situation. Based on initial representations from Company officials, it appears that the workforce reduction plan will not impact Cargill’s Alberta operations at this time. However, we will continue to monitor this situation carefully.
Let me be clear, we don’t believe any reductions are necessary. Not a shred of evidence has been provided to justify any workforce reductions. Beef sales have skyrocketed and no one should lose their job during an unprecedented affordability crisis.
We will continue fighting for and representing the best interests of Cargill workers with every tool and resource at our disposal to ensure that large corporations like Cargill treat their workers fairly.”
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We will keep you updated as we receive more information about this situation. Please know that your union always has your back and will keep fighting to ensure you are treated fairly by Cargill.
Posted on: December 03,2024