Keith Zahrt, who has worked at Cargill for 15 years, said he understands that Cargill has to run the plant “24/7, 365 days a year.” He’s missed holidays with his family when he’s called in, and missed school plays his 8-year-old daughter has performed in.
But when workers asked Cargill to give them consideration for wages that hadn’t been keeping up with inflation, they said they got none.
“If you ask everybody out here, everybody will bring up the word ‘respect,’” Zahrt said. “All’s we’re asking for is a little consideration for the sacrifices that we make.”
Koby Sprous, who has worked at Cargill for two years, said sometimes workers are asked to do shifts of 12 hours or even 16 hours at a time.
“We’re the ones that bring them money,” Sprous said. “We produce everything. We load these trucks, these rail cars, that get sent around the country.”
The vote to strike was “overwhelming,” said Joe Kirchhoff, chief union steward at the plant.
He echoed the issues brought up by Zahrt and Sprous, and added workers felt they “took a hit” with their 2021 contract, agreeing to more concessions because of the pandemic.
The company told IPR it plans to meet with workers later this week to negotiate further.
Read more of my interviews from the line here.
Want to help? Though there’s no official strike fund set up, workers say the biggest thing folks can do is come out to the plant, at 1710 16th Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids. (Strikers will be picketing ’round the clock.)
They’ll always take bottled water, snacks, and other supplies. But even a friendly wave, honk of support, and stopping to chat and walk the line for a few minutes helps morale, they say.
They’re also inviting the public to a rally at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday).
Watch a video interview here.
