KEOKUK, IOWA -- Roquette Company in Keokuk, Iowa tells KHQA that they remain committed to reaching an agreement.

As Roquette continues to develop and implement production contingency plans, more than 60 contingency workers arrived on Sunday, October 3, 2010.

“Roquette continues to supply the production demands of our customers,” said Tom Ross, Roquette’s Human Resources Director in a press release issued to the media. “We are operating our facility utilizing a combination of resources and plan to hire additional temporary workers which will be advertised in the local papers.”

As requested to the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, Local Union No. 48G (BCTGM) on September 28, Roquette is expecting to receive specific reasons for why the Union rejected the Company’s fair and reasonable contract offer. The Company continues to suggest that any future meetings with the BCTGM include the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The FMCS is a U.S. Government Agency that handles mediation of labor disputes and contract negotiations to facilitate collective bargaining. It is our understanding that the BCTGM has revised their schedule and is now available to meet with the FMCS early this week.

“Roquette values our employees, communities, customers and suppliers, and remains committed to reaching agreement on a fair and reasonable contract,” stated Dominique Taret, Roquette’s President and CEO.

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