REGINA — Viterra workers have cast their vote in favour of accepting the company’s final offer to the union membership.
According to the union’s news release, results from the vote of members of Grain and General Services Union (GSU) Local 1 (Viterra Country Operations and Maintenance) and Local 2 (Viterra Regina Head Office) were tallied Friday morning. With the union members voting in favour, it means it averts a potential strike of workers at Viterra.
However, the union states the vote result does not show overwhelming support for the final offer.
“Members of Local 1 and 2 have been living under the company’s so-called pay-for-performance system for 15 years now,” said Steve Torgerson, bargaining spokesperson and GSU general secretary, in a statement. “While the changes in the final offer achieve part of what members were looking to gain, it doesn’t go far enough. Members will continue to press the company during the term of the new agreement to address their concerns.”
The union now states that the bargaining process will move into the next phase, where the GSU union and Viterra work to incorporate agreed-upon changes into the new collective agreement. Torgerson states that the offer was accepted by the majority of members of both Locals, but members are looking for more improvements next time.
“It is important to point out that there are improvements gained in this deal. Improvements we have been working on for years. Improvements that will benefit members today and in years to come.”
