Workers Demand Fair Contract from Corporate
Giant
CEDAR
RAPIDS, Iowa, Oct. 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 238 members at Cargill have been
forced to go on strike due to the company's failure to come to
terms on a fair agreement. Cargill workers are demanding the
company—one of the largest agribusiness conglomerates in the
world—provide them with competitive wages that keep pace with the
cost of living.
"Cargill is the largest privately held company in the world and
they're pushing around nickels like it's going to hurt the family
billionaires," said Jesse Case,
Secretary-Treasurer of Local 238 and Teamsters Food Processing
Division Director. "It's the workers that put those billions in the
pockets of the Cargill cartel, and we'll stay on the picket line
until our members receive a fair wage."
The collective bargaining agreement for 100 workers at the corn
milling facility expired at midnight on Tuesday. Cargill made
$177 billion in revenue last
year.
"Cargill is offering Local 238 members wages that are so low
it's creating recruitment and retention issues," said Scott Punteney, Local 238 Business Agent.
"Cargill can end this strike immediately by stepping up, respecting
its workers, and giving them the dignity and fair compensation
they've earned."
"We are striking because Cargill refuses to give us the fair pay
we deserve," said Joe Kirchhoff,
Chief Steward for the Cedar Rapids
facility. "We've worked hard to keep this company profitable, and
it's only right that they respect us with wages that reflect that.
All we're asking for is a raise that keeps up with the rising cost
of living and the compensation standards in our industry."
Teamsters Local 238 represents thousands of hardworking men and
women throughout Iowa. For more
information, go to teamsters238.com/.
Contact:
Matt McQuaid, (617)
894-0669
mmcquaid@teamster.org
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SOURCE Teamsters Local 238