Strike hits Cargill meat plant in Guelph, with almost 1,000 off the job

The nearly 1,000 workers at the Cargill Dunlop meat plant in Guelph are on strike after rejecting a negotiated settlement.

They hit the picket lines Monday morning after voting 82 per cent against a settlement deal.

A statement from the United Food and Commercial Worker Local 175 describes the facility as “a beef slaughter plant where members work in a hot, fast-paced environment that takes a toll.”

The statement goes on to say union negotiators “raised a number of issues at the bargaining table throughout this round of bargaining including the increased cost of living, and the $2 per hour pandemic pay that the employer took away while still deep in the middle of COVID.”

Union Local President Kelly Tosato says, “With a cost-of-living crisis that has become untenable for many working people across Canada, and beyond, Cargill can more than afford to keep their hard-working employees well compensated.”

Back in April the union membership voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action.

Cargill has issued its statement, saying the rejection of the negotiated settlement is disappointing.

It says, “The unanimously recommended settlement included a wage increase in each year of the 4-year settlement, retroactive pay dating back to Jan. 1, 2024, benefit enhancements, and a signing bonus.”

Cargill will shift meat production to other facilities while the strike continues, saying “We will be working with the union on next steps once we hear more from them.”

Neither side has announced a date for more negotiations.