{"id":47453,"date":"2021-11-05T19:02:22","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T19:02:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?p=47453"},"modified":"2021-11-12T13:44:10","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T13:44:10","slug":"texas-pilgrims-pride-poultry-workers-approve-first-union-contract-with-highest-pay-raise-in-plant-history-first-ever-safety-committee-to-protect-workers-as-covid-continues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/texas-pilgrims-pride-poultry-workers-approve-first-union-contract-with-highest-pay-raise-in-plant-history-first-ever-safety-committee-to-protect-workers-as-covid-continues\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas Pilgrim\u2019s Pride Poultry Workers Approve First Union Contract with Highest Pay Raise in Plant History, Key Safety Measures to Protect Workers as COVID Continues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Union for 33,000 Texas Workers on Frontlines of COVID-19 Pandemic Say Waco Contract Supports Good-Paying Texas Jobs Key to Local Economy<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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WACO, TX<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)<\/strong><\/a>, the union for over 33,000 Texas food and retail workers<\/strong>\u00a0statewide, announced that over 400 Texas poultry workers <\/strong>at the Pilgrim\u2019s Pride<\/a>\u00a0plant in Waco, Texas, approved their first union contract <\/strong>which includes pay raises up to $4.00 per hour<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the largest in plant history<\/strong>, as well as the creation of the first-ever union worker safety committee<\/strong>, stronger overtime protections<\/strong>, and provisions to preserve strong healthcare and retirement<\/strong>\u00a0benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As COVID risks continue<\/strong><\/a> in McLennan County and across Texas, this new union contract is the culmination of what started in July 2021, when these <\/strong>Waco Pilgrim\u2019s Pride workers unionized<\/strong><\/a> and joinedUFCW Local 540<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>the largest union for food workers in the region and a leading advocate for frontline food worker safety as the pandemic continues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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UFCW Local 540<\/u><\/strong> President Johnny Rodriguez released the following statement:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWith today\u2019s union contract, Texas poultry workers at Waco Pilgrim\u2019s Pride have secured the highest pay raises in plant history and created the first-ever union worker safety committee \u2014 sending a powerful message that workers have a stronger voice on the job when they stand together.\u00a0

\u201cHelping Texas families put food on the table during the pandemic, these brave frontline workers stepped up for us when we needed them most and have been essential to keeping our communities strong. Just four months after choosing to unionize, these hardworking men and women are achieving results that will help them support their families, build strong careers, and inspire many more Texans to stand up for the good pay and benefits they have earned.

\u201cAs the union for these Texas frontline workers, UFCW Local 540 was proud to stand with our union\u2019s members at Pilgrim\u2019s Pride here in Waco to secure this strong contract. Ensuring these jobs continue to be good Texas jobs for working families is the best way to honor essential workers.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BACKGROUND<\/u><\/strong>: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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UFCW has been a leading voice for Texas essential workers<\/strong>, including Pilgrim\u2019s Pride poultry workers at the Waco plant as COVID infections impacted workers<\/a> at facilities across the region. Protecting and investing in Pilgrim\u2019s Pride workers at the Waco facility was the first priority in the new UFCW Local 540 union contract approved by these employees. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Key Provision of Pilgrim\u2019s Pride UFCW 3-Year Contract Approved This Week<\/strong>: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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