November 20, 2008
Meatpacking Workers Win Solid Wage and Benefits Increases in New Agreement with Smithfield/Patrick Cudahy
(Washington, DC) – A new contract covering 1450 Smithfield/Patrick Cudahy workers in Cudahy, Wis., raises living standards for meatpacking workers and their families. The contract negotiated by union members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1473 provides solid wage increases, lower worker health care costs with improved health care benefits, and greater pension security.
“This is a good contract,” said production worker and UFCW Local 1473 member Ilma Santiago. “Good wages, good health care, and good pension benefits.”
The new five-year contract provides:
- Wage increase of $1.26, increasing base-wage rates to $12.66 an hour with a top rate of $32.08 an hour
- A $175 lump-sum payment
- Improvements in wellness health care coverage—and a five percent decrease in worker health care costs
- Increases pension and improves retirement security
- A $200 annual tool allowance
- Increases life insurance
- Increases sick allowance pay
- Improves vacation benefits
- Improves funeral and bereavement pay
The Cudahy contract is the latest of several major collective bargaining wins for UFCW packing and food processing members across the country.
“It’s good to have a union, especially in these tough economic times—a UFCW contract means security for my family,” said Santiago.