Monthly Archives: December 2019

Hospital equipment management workers at Agiliti Health, Inc. in Worcester, Mass., recently voted to join UFCW Local 1445 by an overwhelming margin. The 20 workers joined our union family to make these jobs safer and better. Key priorities include increasing their bargaining power with management, improving working conditions, addressing short staffing, strengthening workplace safety and ensuring they receive better pay for the hard work they do every day.

“Workers can have a better life by joining the union and I am proud of the Agiliti workers for their courage and solidarity!” said UFCW Local 1445 President Jeff Bollen.

Agiliti Health, Inc. provides medical equipment to hospitals across the country.

The International’s Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing (FPPM) Division held a chain meeting on Nov. 18 to 21 in Omaha, Neb., to address ways we can strengthen jobs in the meatpacking and food processing sectors.

More than 200 UFCW staff and members who work in these sectors attended the meeting, which included legal, health and safety, and chemical workers workshops, as well as workshops for members in the food processing, poultry, beef and pork sectors. The meeting also included employer-specific workshops for members who work at Cargill, Smithfield, JBS, Pilgrim’s Pride, Tyson Foods, and Hormel plants.

“I learned a lot from the chain meeting workshops because, these days, a lot is changing with the company’s operations, especially now with automation and line speeds,” said José Guzman, who is a member of UFCW Local 770 and a steward at Farmer John in Vernon, Calif.

“I want to thank Local 2 and the UFCW FPPM Division for the valuable information presented at this year’s FPPM chain meeting,” said José Vasquez, who is a member of UFCW Local 2 and a steward at National Beef in Dodge City, Kan. “The educational workshops allow me to learn more and educate the rest of the stewards at my plant.”