THUNDER BAY – NEWS – It isn’t sweet. Supplies of sugar are either low, or non existent. An ongoing strike at Rogers Sugar is at the heart of the problem.
Rogers Sugar Inc. (TSX: RSI) announced today that the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) Local 8, representing workers at the Vancouver refinery, has rejected the Company’s latest global proposal. The Company, committed to sustaining operations and jobs, issued the following statement:
“Continuous operation at the Vancouver refinery is crucial for job preservation, meeting market demand, and ensuring the plant’s future. The status quo is not viable. Regrettably, an agreement on the necessity of transitioning to continuous operation has not been reached.
Despite earnest efforts, including offering improvements during negotiations, an acceptable solution has not been found. In light of the union bargaining committee’s current stance, we are pausing negotiations.
We are dedicated to fulfilling our customer obligations and are actively seeking short-term and long-term solutions. White sugar supply is abundant, and we have resumed brown sugar production in Vancouver.
Operating at reduced capacity, we have ample raw sugar on site to continue until May 2024 if needed. Our commitment remains unwavering in securing a mutually agreeable resolution for the plant’s future and its employees, aiming for full production soon. Our firm objective is to support long-term growth in the Canadian market, generating thousands of jobs in food manufacturing nationwide. Transitioning to continuous operation, we hope the Vancouver plant can contribute to this long-term solution.”
