Regina-Viterra Inc. said June 16 that a majority of members of the Grain Services Union (GSU) in the AgPro (Alberta and Manitoba) bargaining unit have voted in favor of the company’s offer, which will provide them with common terms and conditions of employment, including market-based compensation and benefits, fairness and flexibility and long-term labor stability. Some 85.5 percent of the employees who cast ballots voted to accept the final offer. Viterra said that based on performance measurements and goals, employees can enjoy an annual incentive program in the range of 5, 10, and 15 percent that will potentially add to their total compensation. Viterra’s accepted offer includes a six percent compensation payment on signing, as well as annual increases (that are based on an individual employee’s performance) of 6, 5, 5, and 5 percent beginning Nov. 1, 2008. With today’s results, Viterra now has approximately 630 employees in Alberta and about 570 employees in Saskatchewan and about 160 employees in Manitoba who enjoy programs that provide for the same system of pay, benefit and pension plans, and vacations and statutory holidays. Voting results for the GSU’s Saskatchewan Maintenance and Operations unit are expected June 20. The Regina office’s bargaining unit rejected the company’s offer on June 10. The company has said it stands by its offer made to the offices bargaining unit. The Regina unit, which includes 194 employees, voted to strike; however, the company said the earliest date for a strike would be July 7. Viterra resulted from the 2007 merger of Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Agricore United.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain