Big news out of Tar Heel, North Carolina today — the workers at the world’s largest pork processing plant have ratified their first-ever union contract:
Members of UFCW Local 1208 will join more than 10,000 other Smithfield workers, and more than 240,000 others who work in the meat packing and food processing industry who have a UFCW union contract.
The new contract includes:
- Wage increases of $1.50/hour over the next four years.
- Continued company-provided affordable family health care coverage.
- Improved paid sick leave and vacation benefits.
- Retirement security through protection of the existing pension plan.
- Continued joint worker/management safety committee, including company funded safety training for workers.
- Guaranteed weekly hours that protect full-time, family supporting jobs in the community
- A system to resolve workplace issues.
- Three working days of paid funeral leave following the death of immediate family members.
“This contract will completely transform our workplace,” said Orlando Williams. “This is the biggest four-year wage increase Smithfield workers have ever had and it will make a real difference for our families and in this community. We could never have gotten that increase without a chance to bargain with the company. We will finally have a sense of security on the job because through our union we can make sure we have a safe place to work, and that everyone’s treated fairly.”
That’s a big step closer to achieving the American Dream for five thousand workers. Congratulations to all of them!