Western Canada’s leading agri-business Agricore United yesterday [Monday] revealed the results of a representation vote conducted among its Country Operations employees.
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Subject to confirmation by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), Agricore United country employees voted 59% in favor of a direct working relationship with the company instead of representation by the Grain Services Union (GSU).
The vote came about as a result of the combination of the business operations of Agricore Cooperative and United Grain Growers on 1 November 2001. At that time, the GSU represented about half of Agricore’s country employees and none of UGG’s country employees. The new company advocated that employees had the right to vote on whether they wanted a direct working relationship or union representation.
The CIRB conducted the vote by mail-in ballot. Ballots were sent out to Agricore employees in February and were to be returned to the CIRB’s Winnipeg office no later than 14 March. Ballots were counted by the CIRB this morning. About 88% of eligible employees participated in the vote.
“This high participation rate tells us the results are a true representation of people’s views,” said Tracey Bryksa, communications coordinator with Agricore’s Country Operations division.
The result is not expected to have significant impact on day to day operations, as wages, conditions of employment, job responsibilities and working conditions are already comparable for Country Operations employees.
“As far as the customer is concerned, it will be business as usual,” concluded Bryksa.
