Posts Categorized: Negotiations

UFCW Local 152 members who work for the Borough of Bradley Beach, N.J., unanimously voted to ratify a new contract on June 9 that raises wages and improves benefits. The members are employed as sanitation drivers, machine operators, police dispatchers, and in clerical positions and more and work tirelessly to keep the Borough of Bradley Beach, a shore town in Monmouth County, clean and safe.

The three-year contract includes substantial improvements to the wage step progressions and all eligible employees who are at the top rate of their step progression will now receive annual raises each year for the life of the agreement. The contract also preserves the members’ affordable health insurance, making it easier for both junior and future members to obtain and access inexpensive health care, and establishes clear language for the New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Act.

Members of the Negotiating Committee included Director of Collective Bargaining Dan Ross; Director of Organizing and Union Representative Chad Brooks; Director of Communications and Union Representative Mike Thompson; Shop Stewards Nicole Browning, John Reid, Patty Martuscelli; and member Dana Mikaitis.

Over 19,000 JBS workers in 10 states recently ratified strong, new contracts that raise wages and improve benefits. The workers are members of UFCW Locals 99, 227, 230, 293, 540, 663, 951, 1149, 1473 and 1776KS and are employed in JBS plants in Grand Island, Neb.; Worthington, Minn.; Tolleson, Ariz.; Green Bay, Wis.; Marshalltown and Ottumwa, Iowa; Louisville, Ky.; Souderton, Pa.; Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; and Plainwell, Mich.

The new agreements, which range from four to five years, include wage increases that are tied to the Consumer Price Index and an increase in short-term disability. The new contracts also expand nondiscrimination language to add sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. These new contracts build on the UFCW’s agreement with JBS in April to increase pay and protections for members at JBS plants during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

“These strong, new contracts include the wages and benefits our members at JBS have earned and deserve as they work to protect our country’s food supply during a global pandemic,” said International Vice President and Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing Division Director Mark Lauritsen. “The UFCW will continue to push other meatpacking and food processing employers to follow the lead of JBS and Cargill, which also recently raised wages and improved benefits for our members, with the goal of raising standards for all workers in this industry.”