REGINA — Members of the Grain and General Services Union who work for Viterra have voted to accept the company’s latest contract offer.
The GSU announced the decision, saying the support wasn’t overwhelming but enough to accept the offer. Local 1 voted 63 percent in favour and Local 2 voted 68 percent to accept.
“Members of Local 1 and 2 have been living under the company’s so-called pay-for-performance system for 15 years now,” said general secretary Steve Torgerson.
“While the changes in the final offer achieve part of what members were looking to gain, it doesn’t go far enough.”
He said members have set their sights on more improvements in the next contract.
“It is important to point out that there are improvements gained in this deal,” he said.
Local 1 represents country operations and maintenance while Local 2 is Regina head office. In total they represent 436 workers.
Union members had voted in favour of strike action earlier this month but on Jan. 5 the company presented another offer and a vote was conducted over the last couple of weeks.
The offer included salary increases over four years, starting with 4.5 percent retroactive to Jan. 1, 2023, then 3.75 percent effective Jan. 1, 2024, and 2.5 percent in the next two years.
The union had been asking for improved work-life balance and workplace respect as well as fair wages.
Some members of The Western Producer’s editorial department belong to a different GSU local.
Contact karen.briere@producer.com
