On Aug. 17, GSU general secretary Steve Torgerson sent the following email to GSU Local 1 & 2 members affected by the 4.5% pay and retro grievances

“Good news to share, we now have arbitration dates locked in. The hearing for our Local 1 & 2 executive grievances is less than a month away, scheduled for September 14–16, 2026.

A quick refresher on what this is about

When we ratified our renewed collective agreement, it included a 4.5% wage increase effective January 1, 2023, along with retro pay. The company did not apply that increase and retro pay to all eligible members the way the agreement — and our discussions at the bargaining table — called for. Some members got nothing, some got only part of what they were owed. So Locals 1 & 2 filed executive grievances on behalf of every member to make this right.

Why it took this long to get here

We know it’s been a long road, and we appreciate your patience. Grievances that head to arbitration slow down once lawyers on both sides get involved. On top of that, this case affects a lot of members, which makes it more complex than a typical grievance.

What’s happening now

We’re preparing for the hearing. That means pulling together our evidence, finalizing the records and dues remittance data that show who did and didn’t receive the full increase, and getting our case ready to present.

One thing worth mentioning, even with the company now operating as Bunge, they remain bound by these grievances and by whatever the arbitrator decides. The change in ownership does not let anyone off the hook.

What to expect

An arbitrator is a neutral third party who hears both sides and hands down a binding decision — one that both the union and the company have to follow. We’ll keep you posted as September approaches, and we’ll let you know the outcome once we have it.

If you have questions in the meantime, reach out to me, your Local 1 Board of Delegates, or your Local 2 Executive.

In solidarity,
Steve Torgerson
GSU General Secretary”