Over 7,000 Cargill workers who are members of UFCW Locals 2, 293 and 540 recently ratified strong, new contracts that include better wages and benefits. The workers are employed at Cargill plants in Dodge City, Kan.; Fort Worth, Texas; and Schuyler, Neb.
The five-year agreements include a $2 per hour permanent increase at ratification and an increase in short-term disability to $450 per week. The UFCW negotiated the $2 per hour temporary raise for Cargill workers from March 23 to May 5 as part of our union’s effort to increase pay and other benefits for frontline workers during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, and the move to a $2 per hour temporary to permanent raise is a significant boost for these workers. In addition to the permanent $2 per hour raise, the workers will also receive a $6 per hour temporary raise in response to the ongoing health crisis through August 31, 2020.
“The $2 permanent wage increase and enhanced benefits represent a significant breakthrough for our members at Cargill,” said International Vice President and Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing Division Director Mark Lauritsen. “Our union will push other meatpacking and food processing employers to follow Cargill’s lead with the goal of raising standards for all workers in this industry.”
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