Rogers Sugar, union reach ‘tentative agreement’ after strike

After approximately 140 of its workers walked off the job on Sep. 28 last year, Rogers Sugar says it has reached a “memorandum of agreement” with the union that represents its employees at the company’s Vancouver refinery.

In a statement Friday, Rogers Sugar says the tentative agreement is “subject to ratification” and will need to be voted on the by Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) Local 8 members in the coming week.

“Out of respect for the bargaining process, the Company will be making no further comment at this time,” the company said.

The Local 8 members engaged in job action over issues including wages, benefits and the company’s proposal to increase refinery operations to 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

No details regarding the specifics of the agreement have been released.

The Rogers Sugar refinery in Vancouver is one of only three large sugar refineries in the country that processes imported cane sugar.

The strike has caused intermittent sugar shortages in Western Canada this fall.