Two days of negotiations under the direction of a federally appointed mediator failed to break the deadline between Viterra and unionized employees represented by the Grain Services Union. 
Talks broke off July 17 without a settlement to the dispute, so head office workers represented by the GSU will remain off the job and country operation and maintenance will continue with a work to rule campaign.
GSU’s general secretary said the two sides remain far apart on key issues and it doesn’t look as though talks will resume any time soon.
The issues in dispute include a company proposal for performance-based pay increases, hours of work and a company proposal to take over the employee benefits plan, which is currently jointly administered by the company and the union.
The union went on strike July 7 after being without a contract since Jan. 31, 2008.
