Local 371 recently won 33 hours of back pay for part-timer O’Brian, who was scheduled less than the contractual 16 hour minimum for several weeks. This grievance is a perfect example of the importance of making sure every member knows the contract and knows who to contact when a violation arises. O’Brian is pictured with his steward Liz. Thanks for showing it pays to belong, O’Brian!
UFCW Local 371 Ben & Jerry’s Members Negotiate Significant Wage Increases, Health Care Improvements
Waterbury, Vt. – More than 300 Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream workers at the St. Albans and Waterbury production facilities, who are members of theUnited Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 371, ratified their first union contract by an overwhelming majority vote.
Jeff Johnson, St. Albans Ben & Jerry’s bargaining committee member with 23 years seniority, said the following:
“I’m so proud of my co-workers for sticking together and demanding better. The union difference is clear and joining UFCW Local 371 will make a huge difference for us. Joining the union’s health insurance and getting consistent wages means hundreds more in each of my co-worker’s checks each month, and protecting our retirement and our paid time off gives us the security we need in uncertain times.”
Bernie Sweet, Jr., Waterbury Ben & Jerry’s bargaining committee member with seven years seniority, said the following:
“After a long organizing campaign and long negotiations, we are starting in the right direction to recapturing a time in the past when employees were happy and lining up the door for jobs and the company’s production goals were being exceeded.”
Contract Highlights
Most notably, the three-year contract allows workers to enter into the union’s health insurance plan, which includes medical, prescription, dental, and optical coverage and a cost savings of up to $8,000 a year in weekly premiums alone. The contract also guarantees 14 percent wage increases over the next three years, with a 16 percent pay raise between now and April 27, and a move towards a hybrid eight and 12 hour shift pattern, giving members more flexibility to balance the needs of their families with the needs of the plant.
Additional contract terms include:
Background
Workers at the Waterbury and St. Albans plants won union recognition by way of card check in January and March of this year through an existing global agreement with Ben & Jerry’s parent company, Unilever, that establishes union neutrality and card check recognition at all Unilever worksites.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 371 is proud to announce the workers at Still River Wellness in Torrington recently ratified their first union contract.Still River Wellness workers are just the latest in the CT cannabis industry to negotiate a union contract and join a growing union movement of a cannabis workers in CT.
The workers at Still River Wellness in Torrington secured a two- year contract with an increase of six paid days off, significant wage increases, an increase in the employee discount, and access to union health insurance.
“Local 371 UFCW represents workers not only in cannabis, but also in food processing, retail, healthcare, casinos, and many service industries. As a resident of Torrington, I am absolutely thrilled to have our city be home to another responsible union employer who ensures that Torrington jobs are quality jobs”, said Keri Hoehne, Executive Vice President of UFCW Local 371.
“I have always liked my job at Still River Wellness. Have the security that a union contract can provide, plus having the backing of tens of thousands of other unionized cannabis workers who are members of the UFCW’s Cannabis Workers Rising just ensures that I can build a career at Still River that will be here long into the future.”, said Ashley Corrie, a member of the union’s bargaining committee.
The UFCW partners with cannabis workers, patients, consumers, community allies, elected officials and business owners to achieve the shared goals of creating an industry with family-sustaining jobs and a focus on social equity. Through these partnerships and worker organizing, the UFCW’s Cannabis Workers Rising division has been able to set standards throughout the industry in our union contracts.
We are now accepting applications for the Region One Women’s Network Childcare Grant! This one time grant will be payable to your child care provider or summer camp. Applications are due by October 31, 2024. Fill out your application today and spread the word!
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