Federal mediator called to resolve Cedar Rapids Cargill strike. | (सीडर रैपिड्स कारगिल संयंत्र में हड़ताल को सुलझाने के लिए संघीय मध्यस्थ को लाया गया )

Main Points In Hindi (मुख्य बातें – हिंदी में)

यहाँ दिए गए लेख के मुख्य बिंदु निम्नलिखित हैं:

1. हड़ताल की स्थिति: सीडर रैपिड्स में कारगिल के मकई मिलिंग प्लांट के लगभग 100 कर्मचारी 1 अक्टूबर को हड़ताल पर चले गए हैं। हड़ताल यूनियन प्रतिनिधियों द्वारा कंपनी के नवीनतम प्रस्ताव को अस्वीकार करने के बाद की गई है।

2. सर्वेक्षण और बातचीत: यूनियन के प्रतिनिधि और हड़ताली श्रमिकों की एक सौदेबाजी समिति एक मध्यस्थ के साथ बैठक करने की योजना बना रही है, यह उम्मीद करते हुए कि वे एक अस्थायी समझौते पर पहुँच सकते हैं।

3. कर्मचारियों की मांगें: हड़ताली कर्मचारी उचित वेतन, सम्मान और उद्योग मानकों के अनुरूप मुआवजे की मांग कर रहे हैं, जो उनके अनुसार स्थानीय व्यवसायों की तुलना में कम है।

4. कंपनी का दृष्टिकोण: कारगिल ने कहा है कि उसने अपने कर्मचारियों के लिए एक उचित और प्रतिस्पर्धी पैकेज का प्रस्ताव रखा है, लेकिन हड़ताली श्रमिकों का कहना है कि कंपनी का प्रस्ताव उद्योग मानकों से काफी पीछे है।

5. लंबी हड़ताल की तैयारी: कर्मचारियों ने संकेत दिया है कि अगर आवश्यक हुआ तो वे लंबे समय तक हड़ताल पर रहेंगे, ताकि उनको उचित वेतन मिल सके। वे जीवनयापन की बढ़ती लागत को बनाए रखने के लिए संघर्ष कर रहे हैं।

Main Points In English(मुख्य बातें – अंग्रेज़ी में)

Here are the main points from the article regarding the strike at the Cargill corn milling plant in Cedar Rapids:

- Advertisement -

1. Strike and Negotiation Background: Teamsters Local 238 members initiated a strike on October 1, following the rejection of Cargill’s latest wage proposal. A federal mediator is expected to facilitate negotiations between union representatives and the company.

2. Workers’ Demands: Striking workers are demanding fair wages and respect from the company, arguing that their current pay is significantly lower than industry standards and that they have not received substantial raises during profitable years for Cargill.

3. Comparison of Wages: Cargill employees in Cedar Rapids reportedly earn at least $2.50 less per hour compared to workers at other Cargill facilities, and even less than competitors like Quaker Oats and General Mills.

4. Continued Operations Amid Strike: Despite the strike, Cargill has been operating with workers transferred from other facilities, which has raised concerns among strikers about job security and fairness.

5. Long-Term Consequences: Workers are prepared for a prolonged strike to ensure they receive appropriate compensation and acknowledgment of their contributions, citing their hard work and the company’s profitable years as reasons for their demands.

Complete News In Hindi(पूरी खबर – हिंदी में)

Complete News In English(पूरी खबर – अंग्रेज़ी में)

Here’s a simplified rewrite of the provided HTML content:

- Advertisement -

<div>
    <figure class="article-image align-in-article-image" data-width="4114" data-height="2680">
        <a href="https://example.com/image1" target="_blank"></a>
        <figcaption class="figure-caption article_image_caption image_text" data-uuid="0755bea3-b01b-55c0-a80a-8c7791bacd0e">
            Local Union members of Teamsters Local 238, Wen Masters and Tyler Hileshiem, are seen talking to each other while protesting outside the Cargill corn milling plant in Cedar Rapids on October 1. Hileshiem has been working at Cargill for over ten years and is on strike with their union for a contract. (Savanna Blake/The Gazette)
        </figcaption>
    </figure>

    <div id="instaread-container">
        <p class="ir_desc">The Gazette provides audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some pronunciations may be incorrect.</p>
    </div>

    <p class="article__body">
        Cedar Rapids - A federal mediator is expected to join the negotiations as Teamsters Local 238 representatives confirm that striking workers at the Cargill corn milling plant have returned to the bargaining table.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Sami Shetz, an organizer with Teamsters Local 238 and a Democratic state representative from Cedar Rapids, said union representatives and a bargaining committee of striking workers are scheduled to meet with the mediator on Wednesday afternoon in hopes of reaching a temporary agreement.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Cargill's spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Tuesday.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        The company stated last week that it has offered “a fair and competitive package for our employees and we are disappointed that we haven’t been able to reach an agreement with the union at this time.”
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Cargill expressed their willingness and readiness to meet with the union and noted that their officials remain optimistic about reaching an agreement soon.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        “In the meantime, we will continue to supply our customers with high-quality products,” the company's statement said.
    </p>

    <figure class="article-image align-in-article-image" data-width="4865" data-height="3136">
        <a href="https://example.com/image2" target="_blank"></a>
        <figcaption class="figure-caption article_image_caption image_text" data-uuid="fe23b2dc-9eac-5931-8d7e-d3d603732c7b">
            The Cargill corn milling plant in Cedar Rapids on October 1. (Savanna Blake/The Gazette)
        </figcaption>
    </figure>

    <h2 class="subheadline">Employees Demand Fair Pay and 'Respect'</h2>
    <p class="article__body">
        On Tuesday morning, ten striking workers protested outside the employee entrance of the Cargill plant, where work continued. Striking employees and Teamsters Local 238 business agent Scott Puntey noted that the company has brought in operators from other Cargill facilities since the work stoppage began last week.
    </p>

    <figure class="article-image align-in-article-image" data-width="4032" data-height="3024">
        <a href="https://example.com/image3" target="_blank"></a>
        <figcaption class="figure-caption article_image_caption image_text" data-uuid="ec280583-09a1-5ab3-99d2-0e685754179e">
            Members of Teamsters Local 238 protested outside the Cargill corn milling plant in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday. (Tom Barton/The Gazette)
        </figcaption>
    </figure>

    <p class="article__body">
        Around 100 employees went on strike at the Cargill corn milling plant near the Cedar River on October 1, after the local Teamsters union voted to reject the company's latest proposal for fair wages. The collective bargaining agreement between 93 Cedar Rapids employees and the Minnesota-based crop trader and food producer expired at midnight that day.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Teamsters Local 238 has scheduled a rally for Thursday afternoon to support striking workers who say they are demanding fair compensation that reflects industry standards and the rising cost of living.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Puntey indicated that Cargill returned with a proposal that was $1.80 per hour less than what the union had requested. The union argues that the plant's pay is significantly behind industry standards, with Cargill employees earning less per hour compared to workers at other local facilities.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        He stated that Cedar Rapids workers are paid at least $2.50 less per hour than operators at other Cargill plants and are far behind companies like Quaker Oats and General Mills in wages.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Puntey stated that the company has not been willing to make fair market adjustments for this group of workers, unlike what they have done for other facilities in recent months.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Currently, the average wage for operators at the Cedar Rapids corn milling plant is less than $30 per hour, translating to an annual pre-tax salary of about $62,400 for employees working 40-hour weeks throughout the year.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        “All these other units received market adjustments, which are common with inflation and worker shortages during the pandemic. This is all about respect. These people worked hard to make this company extremely profitable during the pandemic. Before this year, they had their biggest profits in four years... If they don’t address it now, (workers) will fall even further behind,” he added.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        “We hope the negotiations continue in the right direction and that we can reach a temporary agreement that our members can vote on and approve.”
    </p>

    <figure class="article-image align-in-article-image" data-width="4918" data-height="3191">
        <a href="https://example.com/image4" target="_blank"></a>
        <figcaption class="figure-caption article_image_caption image_text" data-uuid="82ea5d45-1b63-50ba-9b31-72422a35d923">
            The Cargill corn milling plant in Cedar Rapids on October 1. (Savanna Blake/The Gazette)
        </figcaption>
    </figure>

    <p class="article__body">
        Cargill, one of the largest privately-owned companies in the world, reported $160 billion in revenue in its 2024 annual report released in August, which was a $17 billion decline from the previous year. This marked the first drop in the company's revenue since 2019 and the largest decline in a decade. Cargill CEO Brian Sykes noted in a letter to stakeholders that "the market our people navigated this year was extremely challenging."
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        The U.S. agriculture market is facing a downturn, with the USDA forecasting a decrease in net farm income for 2024. Cash receipts from the sale of agricultural products are expected to decline by $9.8 billion (1.9 percent) to $516.5 billion in 2024, with crop sales anticipated to fall by $27.7 billion (10 percent) compared to 2023 due to decreasing prices for corn and soybeans.
    </p>

    <h2 class="subheadline">Cargill Employees Brace for a Long Strike</h2>
    <p class="article__body">
        Among the workers protesting in front of the Cargill plant on Tuesday was Mike Lindstrom, a plant operator from Marion who has worked for Cargill for 16 years. Lindstrom stated that employees are striking for better pay and respect, feeling undervalued compared to other local businesses.
    </p>

    <figure class="article-image align-in-article-image" data-width="4032" data-height="3024">
        <a href="https://example.com/image5" target="_blank"></a>
        <figcaption class="figure-caption article_image_caption image_text" data-uuid="bbdb270b-e3fd-5fa3-85a3-d1b2adc4eef9">
            Members of Teamsters Local 238 staged a protest outside the Cargill corn milling plant on October 1, 2024, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Tom Barton/The Gazette)
        </figcaption>
    </figure>

    <p class="article__body">
        He mentioned that during previous contracts, worker pay adjustments have lagged behind, with Cargill enjoying four profitable years without significant wage increases.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Lindstrom said, “The problem is they’ve used that as an excuse for every contract, even during record-breaking years. This facility has always performed well, consistently ranking above 90 percent in production and quality.”
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        He emphasized that the union wants fair treatment and acknowledgment of their hard work and dedication. Lindstrom described challenging working conditions, including working seven days a week with irregular time off.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        He added that this facility is often cited as a benchmark for safety within Cargill, yet employees, many of whom have been with the company for over a decade, feel undervalued.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Lindstrom clarified that workers are not seeking wealth but are striving to maintain their standard of living, stating that Cargill's last offer was “aggressively low.”
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        He mentioned that union members are ready to return to the bargaining table but are prepared to remain on strike as long as necessary to secure fair wages.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        “We would prefer to resolve this sooner rather than later, but we know it could take months,” Lindstrom said, recalling that a strike by Ingredion workers in Cedar Rapids in 2022 lasted nearly six months.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        “Clearly, no one wants that. But if that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes,” Lindstrom added, indicating he might need to find another job due to the financial strain of the strike before reaching a resolution.
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        Cedar Rapids mill operator Brad Evlund echoed Lindstrom's concerns, stating, “The company and us in the union aren’t that far apart. But the proposal they gave us last week was not where it should be for a company as large and successful as Cargill has been in recent years,” said Evlund. "I hope our union and the company can come together on a new contract soon."
    </p>
    <p class="article__body">
        For comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com
    </p>
</div>
<script>
    (function(d, s, id) {
        var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
        if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
        js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
        js.src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.10";
        fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
    }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));
</script>

This version presents the content in simpler language, focusing on clearer understanding while preserving the essential information.

Source link