Not really Winnipeg news, but it has to do with Agricore, so..
Brunt of Viterra layoffs are here
By Tom Hamilton, Thunder Bay
Friday, October 5, 2007
http://www.chroniclejournal.com/stories.php?id=68573
Recently, a senior Viterra executive made a statement that “the Thunder Bay grain operations of Viterra are no different than any other of Viterra‘s operations.” (“Viterra contemplates layoffs,” Regina Leader-Post, Sept. 26).
The following points illustrate the differences that are currently affecting Thunder Bay employees and their families.
• Layoffs of over 50 per cent of the AgricoreUnited workforce began in August and continue to this day.
• Viterra has already informed the employees, in a meeting in mid-August, that the AU “S” house is to be closed by Dec. 31.
• Viterra has projected tonnage for the AU “A” house at 380,000 tonnes, with no work in the spring of 2008 except for the loading of vessels, which requires a minimum number (from eight to 12) of employees to perform. The above tonnage is in comparison to the 1.3-1.5 million tones that the facility would normally handle. This is a decrease in volume of from 72 to 75 per cent.
• Thunder Bay is the prime operation affected by the reduced tonnage. There has been no negative effect in Vancouver or in country operations.
• The tonnage referred to above will only go to the AU “A” terminal as long as the SWP (Saskatchewan Wheat Pool) “A” terminal continues to handle grain volumes of around 1.7 million tonnes. If projections go below that, the grain destined for the AU terminal will be redirected to the SWP terminal, resulting in even lower numbers and employment levels there.
• The type of grain is also a factor. The AU “A” house is capable of handling and processing both Canadian Wheat Board grain and non-board grain. Normally, we concentrated on wheat and durum, with the peas, oil seeds, etc., going to the AU “S” house, which is a smaller terminal employing much fewer people. “A” house will no longer process board grain. It will handle only non-boards, with a consequent drop in employment levels.
There is no other Viterra operation that has been affected or will be affected in the way that the former AgricoreUnited terminals have been affected in Thunder Bay. Viterra still struggles to admit this, as is apparent in the comment referred to above. We are in a unique situation here in Thunder Bay and, specifically, at the AU terminals. This unique and exceptional situation requires exceptional measures and Viterra does not admit that necessity.
Tom Hamilton
President - USW Lodge 650
(Grainhandlers)
Agricore already has three vacant elevators, and SWP has two. So Viterra will have 6 vacant elevators on the waterfront. Agricore was taking care of the old UGG terminal but I bet they'll just let it fall apart now, if they're closing S, which is beside it.