Ingredion, union set more meetings in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — Representatives of multinational ingredients maker Ingredion and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 100G plan to continue meeting next Monday and Tuesday, in hopes of resolving a strike against the Cedar Rapids facility that’s now in its 13th week.

The union called a strike Aug. 1 over wages, overtime, health care benefits and other issues as well as elimination of some jobs at the site.

Mike Moore, the local’s principal and president, called an eight-hour meeting between the two sides this past Tuesday "meaningful.“

“The company has moved on some major issues, we’ve moved on some of our issues,” Moore said.

Becca Hary, Ingredion corporate communications director, in an email to The Gazette, deemed Tuesday’s discussion as “a very productive meeting.”

It was the two sides’ first face-to-face meeting since Sept. 21, when both parties were asked to leave the Hotel at Kirkwood Center after discussions turned heated over Ingredion officials bringing armed security professionals with them.

Westchester, Ill.-based Ingredion’s southwest Cedar Rapids facility has 127 hourly union employees and 46 salaried non-union employees, according to Ingredion.

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