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Grain Services Union loses
representation vote Martin d’Entremont, GSU Grain Services Union (GSU) has lost a representation vote held as a result of the merger between the unionized Agricore grain elevator cooperative and the non-union United Grain Growers Company. The loss of the vote means the dissolution of Local 2900 which had some 550 members distributed in Manitoba and Alberta. GSU reports that 40.71% of the employees who voted chose GSU to be their collective bargaining agent, while 59.19 % voted against GSU representation. There were 1120 ballots cast out of 1268 employees who received ballots. 1038 ballots were ruled to be eligible, 1 ballot was spoiled, and 81 ballots were ruled to be ineligible. The non-union portion of the newly merged entity Agricore United was slightly larger than the unionized portion. The GSU originally organized the grain elevator staff of the Alberta Wheat Pool in 1991. In late 1998 the Alberta Wheat Pool merged with Manitoba Pool Elevators, whose workers were long-time GSU members, to form Agricore. Bargaining with Agricore led to a five week strike in 1999. Another merger shortly followed with the non-union United Grain Growers in 2001. "We are obviously disappointed with the result of the vote but respect the result nonetheless" said GSU Secretary General Hugh Wagner. Wagner will not comment further on the vote until the elected officers get a chance to analyze the situation. The dissolution of Local 2900 will mean 230 less AFL members, but the GSU will remain part of the Federation as it has roughly 60 members in Alberta who belong to Local 8800. "The negative effects of corporate mergers on workers is well illustrated here," said AFL President Les Steel. "Workers at Agricor have lost protection and rights at work, and the labour movement has lost a small but dynamic union local." |