Posts Categorized: Meat Packing

On June 22, the UFCW announced an agreement with Packer Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI) to offer union contracts to workers across the country.

“The UFCW is proud to announce that we have reached an agreement with PSSI to offer union representation at PSSI locations across the country,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement. “The problems we have witnessed in the industry must firmly remain a thing of the past and we believe that good, strong, union contracts are crucial to protecting all meatpacking and food processing workers.”

“Of course, the choice to unionize is with PSSI’s hard-working employees and since we have entered this agreement, two of PSSI’s locations in Liberal, Kansas, and Mason City, Iowa, have decided to join our union family,” Perrone added. “Meatpacking and food processing workers risked their lives during the height of the pandemic to ensure that families had food on their tables. These workers have earned and deserve the protections that come with a strong union contract and with this agreement, we are one step closer to getting them the contractual protections enjoyed by UFCW members throughout the meatpacking industry.”

UFCW Local 400 recently hosted a job fair for members who were formerly employed at the Tyson Foods poultry plant in Glen Allen, Va. Tyson Foods shuttered the plant this month, which affected about 700 workers.

The job fair, which took place at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Richmond, Va., included a 401(k) expert, as well as local employers from the Boars Head plants in Petersburg and Jarrett, Cunningham Food Services, Henrico County Food Service, Henrico County Public Schools transportation and food services departments, Newport News Shipyard, Ocean Harvesters and others.

UFCW Local 400 Regional Director Donna Waddell helped to organize the event after learning that Tyson Foods planned to close the plant. She recruited employers to help connect members with union jobs and spread the word about the event through the plant and local media.

“That’s why we’re here today,” she said in an interview with the Richmond Free Press. “Trying to help them find good jobs with good benefits and good pay. Whatever we can do to point them in the right direction for a good job with good benefits, that’s what we’re trying to do.”