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July 31, 1997
Talks resume in meat plant strikeCALGARY (CP) - Talks have resumed between Cargill Foods and the union representing striking workers at its meat-packing plant near High River, Alta.The 1,600 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers walked off the job July 11 in a dispute over wages and working conditions. Since then, the plant has been operating at about 25 per cent capacity with the use of replacement workers. Cargill spokeswoman Barb Isman declined to say whether the talks resumed at the request of the company or the union. She said she is hopeful the two sides will be able to agree on a deal. "If we can come out of this with something we can all agree upon, then we'll be able to get our experienced folks back," Isman said. Isman says the company hasn't lost a great deal of business as a result of the strike. "We had built up fairly significant inventories and we moved the kill up. In terms of loss of busienss, it's not substantial." But she says once those supplies run out it could be a different matter. |