British Columbia

Rogers Sugar announces tentative deal in Vancouver refinery strike

140 workers, represented by the Private and Public Workers of Canada Local 8, have been striking since Sept. 28.

Main issue in the strike was the company's demand to ramp up operations to 24 hours a day year-round

Three Rogers sugar employees with a child and a dog holding up strike signs
Rogers Sugar has announced a tentative deal with its refinery workers who have been on strike for 4 months. (PPWC Local 8 )

Rogers Sugars has announced a tentative agreement with the union representing 140 striking workers at its Vancouver refinery, according to a Friday statement from the company.

No details of the tentative deal have been released. A ratification vote is expected next week.

The workers, represented by Private and Public Workers of Canada (PPWC) Local 8, have been striking since Sept. 28, 2023.

CBC has reached out to PPWC Local 8 for comment.

Talks last broke off in December with the two sides at odds over the company's demand for 12-hour shifts. Rogers Sugar made the demand as it wanted to increase refinery operations to 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

The company has been operating the Vancouver refinery at a reduced capacity during the job action, and the strike has led to intermittent sugar shortages in Western Canada.

The Rogers Sugar plant in Vancouver is one of only three large sugar refineries in the country that processes imported cane sugar.