Posts Categorized: Food Processing

More than 150 members of UFCW Local 152 who work at Top Quality Baking in Vineland, N.J., recently ratified a new contract that raises wages and improves benefits. Top Quality Baking is owned by the T. Marzetti Company, and these members produce frozen garlic bread sold in grocery stores under the New York Bakery brand name, including the well-known “Texas Toast” bread.

The contract includes wage increases throughout the duration of the agreement. The contract also increases the night shift premium to incentivize members to work the less desirable shift. In addition, members at Top Quality Baking will now earn vacation time faster and long-term members will now qualify for an additional week of vacation. The contract also includes double-time pay for members on the seventh consecutive day, longer paid rest periods for all eight and 12-hour shifts, and expanded funeral leave that includes additional family members.

Over 400 members of RWDSU/UFCW Local 87 who work for the Conagra Brands Vlasic Pickles facility in Imlay City, Mich., ratified a new contract in December that raises wages and protects benefits. These workers produce pickles, relish, and pickle spears or chips.  

The four-year agreement includes wage increases of up to 25 percent for all regular full-time employees. During the next three years of the contract, workers will receive between 50 and 75 cents per hour wage increases. The Negotiating Committee also fought hard to protect the health care plan benefits, and won reduced costs for the Family Plan.

There are 400 year-round workers employed at the Conagra Brands Vlasic Pickles facility in Imlay City on a year-round basis, and the number swells to over 500 workers during the April-December season.