Agribusiness cutting 5% of 160,000 employees worldwide
Agribusiness giant Cargill is laying 5% of its global workforce.
The food production company said that the cuts were part of a long-term strategy “to strengthen Cargill’s impact,” which includes realigning resources, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The report did not provide further details about the layoffs. However, Cargill says it has more than 160,000 employees worldwide.
That means around 8,000 workers are set to lose their jobs, according to AP.
Cargill operates in 70 countries.
Despite the workforce reduction, the company will not be laying off workers in Alberta, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 41 said, according to a Calgary Herald report.
“Based on initial representations from company officials, it appears that the workforce reduction plan will not impact Cargill’s Alberta operations at this time,” said Thomas Hesse, president of UFCW Local 401, in an emailed statement, according to the report.
The union said it acted immediately upon learning of the layoffs to know whether Cargill workers in Alberta will be affected.
“The last thing any of our members need right now is uncertainty about their job security,” said Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart in a union press release. “We are all still wrestling with an unprecedented affordability crisis. Our local union’s focus is on protecting and improving the wages, benefits, and working conditions of our members.”
The union also noted that Cargill workers have a union contract, and as such, there are a variety of job protections and rules around workforce reduction to which the company must adhere.
“Additionally, principles of seniority come to bear on a situation like this, further protecting Cargill workers,” said the union.
Previous reports noted that Tesla, McKinsey & Co. and Novartis also have plans to lay off workers in the near future.
