Members of UFCW Local 8-GS who work at the Foster Farms poultry processing facility on Lamona Avenue in Fresno, Calif., ratified their first union contract on Oct. 29.
This historic contract marks a major milestone in the workers’ journey to secure the rights and protections which come with a union contract. The newly ratified agreement includes wage increases during each year of the three-yearcontract, a ratification bonus, and crucial grievance and arbitration procedures—cornerstones of every union contract that ensure fairness, accountability, and due process on the job.
This was a hard-fought victory for the workers, and the path to victory was neither quick nor easy. Beginning with the successful National Labor Relations Board election in June of 2023, these workers faced and won numerous challenges by the employer and stood together through months of rigorous negotiations. Through every challenge, they were united, driven by a shared vision for a better, more secure future in the workplace.
“This victory is a powerful example of what workers can achieve when they stand together with purpose and resolve,” said UFCW 8-GS President Jacques Loveall. “The unity shown by the workers at Foster Farms—throughout the organizing campaign and negotiations—has delivered real results. They now have a contract that provides dignity, fairness, and a voice on the job.”
By aligning with their unionized workers across the Central Valley, this group is now part of a larger movement of Foster Farms employees who are actively shaping a safer and more equitable poultry industry.