August, 2009

Collective Bargaining

UFCW Local 2 Members Overwhelmingly Approve Contract with Seaboard Farms

Aug 12, 2009

UFCW Local 2 members recently ratified a new contract with Seaboard Farms in Guymon, Oklahoma. The five-year contract covers 2,000 workers and includes an immediate hourly wage increase of 70 cents across the board.

The agreement:

  • Lifts wages by a total of $1.80 over the life of the contract;
  • Improves pensions by a 25% increase in company contributions;
  • Maintains health care benefits and improves life insurance benefits;
  • Upgrades several job classifications;
  • Improves contract language in several areas;
  • Protects workers by adding four union employees to monitor gang time on the lines.

“We are very pleased with our contract,” said UFCW Local 2 President Tom Price. “Seaboard is a fairly new contract, and this deal brings us in line with other UFCW contracts in the pork industry.”

Collective Bargaining

UFCW Local 222 Meatpackers Ratify Contracts with Tyson and BPI in Dakota City, Nebraska

Aug 11, 2009

In separate votes on Sunday, members of UFCW Local 222 overwhelmingly voted to ratify contracts with Tyson Foods and Beef Products Incorporated (BPI) in Dakota City, Nebraska.

By an 85 percent vote, Tyson meatpackers approved the four-and-a-half-year agreement that covers 3,400 workers. The deal raises wages by $1.55 over the term of the contract, and expands health insurance coverage while making health insurance premiums more affordable.

“Overall, we are very happy,” said UFCW Local 222 President Marvin Harrington. “With the economy the way it is and the world right now, we feel we got a really good deal. We’re proud to look forward to four-and-a- half years of not only job security and stability, but wage increases as well.”

Workers at BPI also approved a contract that covers 600 workers over five years. The agreement increases wages by $1.60 over the life of the contract, maintains affordable health care, and strengthens contract language in many areas.

Organizing, Press Releases, Retail Food, Social Justice, UFCW Industries

ROUSES GROCERY OBSTRUCTS FREE SPEECH, INTERFERES WITH WORKERS

Aug 10, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             August 10, 2009

 

ROUSES GROCERY OBSTRUCTS FREE SPEECH, INTERFERES WITH WORKERS’ RIGHT TO UNION INFORMATION

 

Louisiana Grocery Store Calls Police on Employees for Expressing Interest in Joining the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union

 

(NEW ORLEANS) – Rouses grocery store in Louisiana is not behaving like a responsible neighborhood business. Instead, the company is clamping down on the first amendment right of workers, obstructing their right to express any interest in joining the UFCW. The grocer went so far as to call the police, insisting on the arrest of workers and other union members attempting to talk about union representation.

“Workers play a big part in the company’s success,” said UFCW Region 5 Director Chad Young.  “And they should share in that success with a voice on the job for paychecks that can support families, affordable, quality health care and job security.” 

 

Even though Rouses allows numerous groups to engage with workers and customers outside their stores, the company is refusing to allow union members and company workers to distribute information and engage in conversations about the process of forming a union.

 

“What’s clear is that Rouses wants to pick and choose when it abides by the law,” said Young. “The UFCW is filing unfair labor practice charges against the company on behalf of workers and union members who believe their rights were violated. It’s the workers choice on whether they want a union. Rouses should abide by the law and stop interfering with that right.”

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail, meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries.

 

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For more information, contact Marc Goumbri, 202-257-8771, or press@ufcw.org