Last Wednesday, more than 50 workers at Smithfield’s Farmland Food plant in Newport News, Va., voted to join UFCW Local 400, winning the election 47-5. Workers at the plant are uniting for a voice on the job. UFCW Local 400 will continue to work with Smithfield workers as they take action and address what they feel are key issues affecting workers at the plant.
UFCW Local 7 JBS Workers Ratify New Contract
JBS members of UFCW Local 7
Members of UFCW Local 7 ratified a new labor contract with the JBS USA beef processing plant in Greeley, Colo. Members overwhelmingly voted to ratify the contract on July 22. The new five-year contract will cover more than 3,000 workers. On July 17, members reached a tentative agreement with the company and avoided a strike following 11 months of tough negotiations.
“Congratulations to our JBS members! The new contract was ratified with a historic turnout and an overwhelming vote to accept the new contract,” said a message posted on UFCW Local 7’s website. “It was a long and hard struggle that ended with a great victory for our JBS members.”
The agreement includes, among other benefits, a $1.80 hour pay increase over the five-year term of the agreement; a 60 cents per hour increase in the first year to be paid retroactively to the original contract expiration date of Sept. 29, 2013; benefits and guarantees in case of plant closing or shift elimination and plant-wide seniority for job bidding.