The Gazette's Tom Barton reported that union workers at Cargill’s corn milling facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, voted Thursday to ratify a new contract, effectively ending a month-long strike that began on October 1 over demands for fair pay increases. Workers are expected to return to the facility this evening to resume production. The previous collective bargaining agreement had expired the same day the strike started, with nearly 100 workers citing unfair pay as the primary issue.
Teamsters Local 238, representing the workers, announced the end of the strike following successful negotiations, although details of the agreement were not disclosed. Jesse Case, principal officer of the union, referred to the resolution as a “win-win,” emphasizing the importance of rebuilding a cooperative relationship with Cargill.
As the agricultural sector faces economic challenges, the new contract aims to foster collaboration and address the workers' concerns moving forward.
