By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Thursday, December 20, 2023

Dec 20, 2023 | 3:10 PM

The union representing employees Viterra grain elevators in Saskatchewan and at the company’s head office in Regina, Sask. will decide in the new year whether to go on strike.

Members of the Grain and General Services Union voted overwhelmingly to reject the company’s final offer. The results were announced Dec. 15, and followed an earlier vote in November where members voted in favour of authorizing a strike.

The union said the main issues are reliable wage increases, better work-family balance, health and safety and greater respect in the workplace.

In a notice to members, the union said its board of delegates is cautiously optimistic Viterra will return to the bargaining table.

Bunge is currently going through the approval process of acquiring Viterra for $8.1 billion. The company expects to close the deal in mid-2024.

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The federal government has extended the term of Canadian Grain Commission chief commissioner Doug Chorney.

His three-year term was to expire in December, but the Governor-in-Council has extended it to April 30, 2024. Chorney, from East Selkirk, Man., has agreed to continue in the role.

The government began the search for a new commission in the spring of 2023. The job posting at the time said the process of reviewing applications was to begin in May 2023.

No reason was given for the extension.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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