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On July 6, workers at Cargill's Dunlop meat processing facility in Guelph, Ontario, have ended their strike, which lasted 41 days, after accepting a new contract. With 52% of workers in favour, the tentative deal was ratified by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 175.
The new contract provides for a $3.75/hour wage increase, including an increase of $2.00/hour for the first year, with back pay to January 1, 2024. Other provisions include an increase in dental coverage to $2,000, a removal of lifetime caps to dental services, and increases to short-term disability payments and bereavement days.
“Our members at Cargill Dunlop are an integral part of a vital supply chain that helps keep food on the table for people every day,” said Kelly Tosato, President of UFCW Local 175. “We are seeing far too many corporations make enormous profits off the backs of their workforces and, coupled with the rising cost of living, many workers and their families are being pushed to the breaking point. They’ve had enough.”
Meat workers began their strike at the Dunlop plant on May 29. Over the month of picketing, workers—who reported that they could not afford the meat they process—have contended with food insecurity. Local food banks cited an increase in food support registration from striking workers.
Additionally, strikers had to deal with "Cargill bargaining with themselves", according to UFCW region 6 director Sam Caetano, referring to a member of Cargill's negotiating team e-mailing the union the company's offer, as opposed to meeting them at the bargaining table. That offer was lower than the previous proposal, which workers rejected by 86%.
Striking workers were undeterred by Cargill's avoidance of negotiations and continued their pickets day-in and day-out, maintaining an 24/7 presence on the picket line. Some strikers slept in their vehicles to maintain their presence at the pickets.
With the ratification of the new contract, workers have been slowly returning to work at the Cargill plant. During this gradual return to work, the UFCW will continue to offer prorated strike pay to workers who have not been scheduled to return to work yet.
The Cargill Dunlop facility processes approximately 1,500 head of cattle every day, making its workers an integral part of the provincial and national food supply chain.