Posts Categorized: Negotiations

UFCW Local 152 members who work at Goya Foods in Pedricktown, N.J., recently ratified a new contract that raises wages and improves benefits. Goya Foods is the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, and these members are employed as warehouse workers, operators, and in other positions at the facility.

The five-year contract includes a $2.00 base rate increase for all members, as well as respectable wage increases throughout the life of the contract and increases for certain rated positions. The contract also includes increases to the company’s yearly benefits contribution through the life of the agreement to maintain the same quality health insurance benefits. In compliance with the New Jersey Sick Leave Law, all members will now receive up to 40 hours (or five days) of sick time each year, which can be cashed out at the end of the year if unused.

To help our members secure a safe and steady retirement, the contract also allows members to begin participating in the UFCW Local 152 Savings Plan. Goya Foods will make guaranteed monthly contributions to the plan on behalf of every member with more than one year of service, and members can also elect to contribute to the plan themselves. The contact also includes added language to better define various articles.

Members of the Negotiating Committee included Director of Collective Bargaining Dan Ross; Executive Director Danette Montes-Palmore; and members Jose Vazquez, Luis Vazquez, and Julio Duran.

Over 180 members of UFCW Local 881 who work at Cresco Labs in Joliet, Ill., recently ratified a first union contract that raises wages and improves benefits. 

After nearly a year of negotiations and many Zoom meetings throughout the pandemic, Cresco Joliet workers remained united in their fight to make their cannabis industry jobs strong careers. The four-year contract includes wage increases, more paid leave, a higher 401(k) match, lower health insurance rates, an increased employee product discount, a robust grievance procedure, and stronger seniority protection language.

Workers at Cresco Labs in Joliet made history by joining UFCW Local 881 in January of 2020, becoming the first cannabis workers in Illinois history to win their union election. This victory came just weeks after recreational cannabis was legalized in the state. Cresco Labs is one of the largest cannabis companies operating in Illinois.

The intent of the Illinois recreational legislation was clear: to have good, well-paying union jobs in the industry. UFCW Local 881 is committed to ensuring that the cannabis industry lives up to the promises it made to the communities when it lobbied for their support for legalization.

“I am incredibly proud of the Cresco Joliet employees for showing unity in the face of adversity. It has been a long journey for this contract,” said Jessica Olson, a facility coordinator at Cresco Labs who served on the Bargaining Committee. “I am excited that we now have clear expectations, guaranteed raises, and procedures for our employees. This is the first cannabis contract in the state of Illinois, and I am honored to be a part of history.”

“Negotiating a first contract under normal conditions can be brutal, but the added challenges of a pandemic make this ratification even more impressive,” said UFCW Local 881 President Steven Powell. “We knew Cresco workers had the courage and determination to make this a reality. We are also aware that cannabis workers around the state have been watching how the Cresco Joliet workers have fought and organized for this union contract. We know this will encourage other cannabis workers to join the movement to improve this industry.”