CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa—Union workers at General Mills’ cereal plant voted almost unanimously Nov. 6 to reject the company’s “last, best, and final” contract offer. Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union Local 110 told KCRG-TV that 99% had voted no. The about 520 workers at the facility joined Local 110 in January, over opposition from management, and are seeking their first union contract. The union called General Mills’ offer ‘utterly unacceptable,” saying it would neither raise pay nor maintain benefits, included unfair scheduling practices and would allow subcontracting that “could move jobs from Cedar Rapids to other non-union facilities.” It added that there are four provisions in the contract offer that needed to be worked out to avoid a strike. Talks were scheduled to resume Nov. 7. Read more
