CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Teamsters Local 238 members at Cedar Rapids' Cargill plant went on strike Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. following what leaders say is a failure by the company to agree on fair terms of wages and working conditions.
Negotiations were ongoing between the company and the 100-person union at the corn-milling facility, but reportedly fell through before the collective bargaining agreement expired midnight Monday.
"Our workers are simply asking for what they deserve: fair pay for the work they do," said Scott Punteney, Teamsters Local 238's business agent.
Cargill responded to the strike saying, "We have proposed a fair and competitive package for our employees and are disappointed that we could not come to an agreement with the union at this time."
The strike will be ongoing until further notice.