CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Teamsters Local 238 says Cargill has cut off health insurance for striking workers. Cargill indicated in a statement to Iowa’s News Now Friday the striking workers will be cut off from their company health insurance in a week, if they’re still on strike after Oct. 31.
In a press release from Local 238, the workers say they are fighting for fair compensation.
Nearly 100 employees represented by the union walked off the job on Oct. 1 after rejecting Cargill’s latest wage offer, which the union said fails to meet industry standards or adequately address inflation.
“For Cargill to rip health care away from its workers in the middle of a strike is nothing short of cruel,” said Scott Punteney, business agent for Teamsters Local 238. “This company’s hundreds of billions of dollars is built on the backs of these workers, and yet they choose to punish them and their families by taking away health insurance. It’s a disgraceful tactic designed to force workers back into dangerous conditions for less than they deserve. Cargill’s greed is on full display.”
Iowa’s News Now has reached out to Cargill’s media relations department to confirm the current status of insurance for striking workers in Cedar Rapids.
A spokesperson said the workers will be “eligible for benefits through COBRA” if they continue striking past next Thursday:
Although we have not reached an agreement with the union committee, we remain open and willing to engage in further negotiations. We believe Cargill has offered a fair and competitive package. In the interim, eligible employees have continued to receive their employee health insurance benefits and will do so through Oct 31, 2024. If they remain on strike after that date, then they will be eligible for benefits through COBRA. Cargill continues to safely supply high-quality products to our customers.
