At Cargill strike rally, workers say company ignores them

At Thursday’s rally at Cargill Corn Milling in Cedar Rapids, where around 100 Teamsters-affiliated workers have been on a Cargill strike since Oct. 1, workers talked about the disrespect they say they’ve gotten from their company during negotiations.

(Read my stories about how the strike started here, and more about workers’ demands here.)

But the biggest thing folks asked for beyond showing solidarity was: Don’t forget about us.

“The reason we’re here today is because Cargill refuses to respect their employees and to give them the right and just pay increases that they deserve,” said Scott Punteney, Teamsters business agent, during the Oct. 10 rally outside of the plant, at 1710 16th Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids.

Punteney said a federal mediator was brought in Oct. 9, and the company initially agreed to sit back down to negotiate. But after the union’s side spoke, they said they waited hours for the company.

“We said, ‘What the hell’s going on?’ They had no offer, nothing. They’re telling the media how much they wanna talk to us. Well, come f**king talk to us,” Punteney said.

He turned toward the Cargill building: “We’re gonna be out here as long as it takes to get what’s right, to get what’s fair, and what’s just,” he said, to cheers from the crowd.

Rick Moyle, executive director of the Hawkeye Labor Council, pointed out that workers were deemed “essential” during the COVID pandemic. The next year, they weren’t.

“You can’t have it both ways, Cargill,” Moyle said. “These hardworking members of our community are simply asking for a fair wage and to be treated with dignity and respect … That’s not asking for too much.”

Workers’ current hourly wages were “a minimum of $2.30” behind other corn milling plants in Cedar Rapids, said chief union steward Joe Kirchhoff.

“Same industry, same city. Why are we so far behind?” Kirchhoff asked.

Cargill recently started penalizing employees for using sick days, which had been agreed upon in workers’ existing contract, Kirchhoff pointed out.

“They’ve gone from trusting us to disciplining us like schoolchildren,” he said.

Bob Rinderknecht, who has worked for Cargill for 22 years, said he remembered “a time when they treated us with respect.” No longer.

“We’re not people to this company any more,” he said. “We are just numbers. … Well, Cargill, we are here today to stand united, to say, ‘Enough’s enough. We’re not gonna take it anymore.'”

“We’re not asking to get rich,” Rinderknecht added. “We’re just asking for enough money to support our families.”

Vicky Lee, a 14-year Cargill worker, said she also remembered respectfulness at the plant. But since the pensions went away, workers have had to make up the difference with more hours. And when her husband went to the hospital with a blood clot, she said a plant manager told her she’d be penalized for missing work to go to his bedside.

“They have forgotten what it means to care for its workers,” she said. “They could care less about us, about our families, and we are going to be here until they do.”

Several speakers pointed out that Cargill is one of a few companies that controls the flow of corn; in fact, it’s the world’s largest grain trader. And while agricultural revenues are declining industrywide—Cargill reported a 10% decrease in 2023—the company still made $160 billion last year.

“I did my research and I found out that Cargill did $160-point-something or other billion dollars in revenue last year, yet they can’t pay a decent living wage here,” said Pastor Kevin Jones, a chaplain with the Hawkeye Labor Council.

That’s why “they need to come off the nickels and dimes” in contract negotiation, said Jesse Case with the Teamsters.

“So I’m asking you—as community members and allies and supporters—not to forget our brothers and sisters who are maintaining this line,” Case said. “They’re the ones who are keeping Cedar Rapids running.”

And Case was optimistic about a resolution to the strike soon.

“Come back to the table with a serious offer,” he said. “We’re not that far apart … We can get it done tomorrow.”