{"id":62058,"date":"2025-05-22T16:49:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T16:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=62058"},"modified":"2025-05-22T17:05:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T17:05:24","slug":"ufcw-announces-historic-contract-ratification-for-jbs-meatpacking-workers","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/press-releases\/ufcw-announces-historic-contract-ratification-for-jbs-meatpacking-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"UFCW Announces Historic Contract Ratification for JBS Meatpacking Workers\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/strong> \u2013 Today, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)<\/a>, America\u2019s largest private sector union representing 1.2 million workers in meatpacking, food processing, grocery, retail, and other essential industries across North America, announced the ratification of a first-ever national contract that will bring significant wage increases, a newly created paid sick leave program, and with the support of JBS, the establishment of a pension retirement plan for 26,000 JBS workers at 14 facilities across the country, among other contract gains.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Mark Lauritsen, Director of the Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing Division and International Vice President at UFCW International, released the following statement:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cWe applaud UFCW members for ratifying this historic contract. Through the collaboration of our Local bargaining committees and the commitment of JBS to providing industry-leading benefits and protections, after nearly 40 years, JBS workers will have a pension retirement plan, giving them a path to a secure financial future. Every employer in the meatpacking industry should follow JBS\u2019s leadership and reintroduce pension plans for the hard-working men and women who keep America fed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cThis contract also establishes new ergonomic safety measures to reduce workplace injury and fatigue, allows for dedicated walking stewards, and strengthens safety committees to ensure that workers are consistently protected across JBS facilities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cIn addition to major wins on pensions and workplace safety, UFCW members secured the first-ever paid sick leave program at JBS, along with retroactive wage increases, and improved vacation and paid leave. Today\u2019s contract ratification means better wages, safer working conditions, and a more stable future for workers in this industry. A new standard has just been set in meatpacking.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Ivan Luna Guerrero, a Refrigeration Mechanic at the JBS Fed Beef Grand Island, Neb., facility, and member of UFCW Local 222IN, said the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cFor the first time, JBS will have a paid sick time program that we can use to take care of ourselves and our families while keeping us healthy and safe on the job. For too long, the meatpacking industry offered zero paid sick time for its workers. Now it’s become the standard thanks to the solidarity of UFCW members and our ability to stand together and achieve better working conditions for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Thelma Cruz, a Union Steward at the JBS Pork Marshalltown, Iowa, facility and member of UFCW Local 1846, said the following:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve been working at JBS for 10 years, and when I got the news about the pension, I was excited. My husband also works here, and when we retire, we will both get pension checks every month. And the longer we\u2019re with the company, the greater our checks will be.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cEverything right now is very expensive, and it’s hard to save money for retirement, so this gives us security. With pensions, raises, bonuses, earned sick pay, and improvements to paid funeral leave, this contract won\u2019t just help my husband and me, but also a lot of families.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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BACKGROUND<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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