Across Western Canada, there is a sugar rush. Store shelves can’t stay stocked, and many grocers are restricting sugar sales to one or two bags per customer.
Presently in Canada, there’s simply less sugar available among an ongoing strike at Western Canada’s largest sugar refinery.
Chocolatier Constance Popp of Winnipeg told CTV National News that, we all get our sugar from the same place. And those places mostly purchase it from Rogers. So right now, it’s a little bit tricky.
Rogers Sugar, owned by Lantic Inc, saw that in late September, 138 workers walk off the job. The workers are arguing to keep eight-hour shifts which runs from Monday to Friday, instead of being asked to work longer shifts and forced to work on weekends.
The B.C.-based Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) says the workers want to keep their work-life balance. The refinery is one of only three Rogers Sugar refineries in Canada, and it feeds the western market.
According to Lantic Inc, during the strike the Vancouver refinery has continued to operate at a low level, and has used its other facilities to make up the gap to continue supplying customers in Western Canada.
The company mentioned that, they will engage in discussions aimed at finding a solution and will help customers get their sugar access back.
The sugar shortage is an inconvenience for customers, but a shocking blow for business owners like Popp, who depend on sugar to make the sweet treats they sell.
According to the Canadian Sugar Institute, annually Canada produces approximately 1.2 million tons of refined sugar, but around 94 per cent of that is produced in just three refining operations in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
Rogers Sugar operates the refineries in Vancouver and Montreal, marketing its products under the brand names Rogers and Lantic, while Redpath Sugar owns the Toronto refinery.
With Canada’s sugar supply coming in large amounts from just three locations, one of them operating at reduced capacity has a massive impact nationwide.
Although the issues in contention between the union and the company include benefits and wages, the main sticking point is the company’s proposal to increase production to 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Presently, the refinery operates 24 hours a day between Monday and Friday, with workers booked on eight-hour shifts.
Lantic Inc. said it was limiting its comments due to the imminent mediation, but added in an email to CTV National News that it is committed to negotiate an agreement which offers fair wages, benefits and working conditions
In Canada the demand for sugar is growing as our population increases and as food manufacturers who employ thousands of Canadians expand their businesses. That’s why in Eastern Canada we are building capacity and seeking to run the Vancouver plant on the same schedule that successful manufacturers all around the world employ.
