I believe both Cargill and IBP have contracts coming up with their unions fairly soon?
Now the unions are talking a substantial raise and who can really blame them? After all Cargill/IBP have been making record profits?
The problem is this: If Cargill/IBP give them a sweetheart contract what happens when the border opens? Suddenly they will have put themselves in a position where they can't compete with their American counterparts! So I would suspect they will be not eager to give awy too much?
IBP has a new union and they seem to have a good attitude in that they say striking is not an option, but they would expect the same deal Cargills union gets. The union at Cargill is quite a bit tougher and militant!
Now what happens if Cargill goes out on strike? A total disaster, without a doubt for the Canadian cattle industry! Hopefully the Alberta government is prepared to step right in and send them back to work? Even a few days shut down could be a total wreck for our markets? Sure hope Shirley is on top of this one?
Now the unions are talking a substantial raise and who can really blame them? After all Cargill/IBP have been making record profits?
The problem is this: If Cargill/IBP give them a sweetheart contract what happens when the border opens? Suddenly they will have put themselves in a position where they can't compete with their American counterparts! So I would suspect they will be not eager to give awy too much?
IBP has a new union and they seem to have a good attitude in that they say striking is not an option, but they would expect the same deal Cargills union gets. The union at Cargill is quite a bit tougher and militant!
Now what happens if Cargill goes out on strike? A total disaster, without a doubt for the Canadian cattle industry! Hopefully the Alberta government is prepared to step right in and send them back to work? Even a few days shut down could be a total wreck for our markets? Sure hope Shirley is on top of this one?
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