Informational picket returns ahead of negotiation between Penford, union

CEDAR RAPIDS - Union leaders at Penford Products hope a little more pressure will help them break a contract talks stalemate with the company. To do that, leaders started an informational picket at the plant on First Street SW about 4 p.m. Thursday. Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union Local 100G, representing about 160 Penford workers, and the company haven't negotiated since members overwhelmingly voted down the company's final offer August 1. Despite the rejection, workers agreed to return to the job under the terms of the old agreement to avoid an immediate strike.

That situation will change Monday when the two sides are scheduled to try again to reach an agreement. Between 100 and 200 union members and members of other locals turned out for the informational picket. Union supporters plan to march for at least a time to let the public know there is an issue with negotiations.

Local 100G President Chris Eby said new plant owner Ingredion is trying to make a current two-tier wage system in the plant permanent and has proposed other concessions Eby said 'would gut” worker protection. Eby hopes the public will side with the union and said 'Cedar Rapids does not take kindly to outsiders coming in and lower living standards.”

Claire Regan, a spokesperson for Ingredion, had no reaction to the start of the informational picket at the Penford plant. The company was 'looking forward to getting back to the negotiating table,” she said.

Union leaders did not say how long or how often they will ask their own members or the community to carry informational picket signs outside the picket plant. Eby said that may depend on how negotiations go Monday.

Union members also held an informational picket in advance of the August 1 deadline.