The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) has announced the ratification of a groundbreaking national contract for 26,000 JBS workers at 14 facilities across the United States. This contract includes significant wage increases, a new paid sick leave program, and the establishment of a pension retirement plan with JBS’s support.
Mark Lauritsen, Director of the Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing Division and International Vice President at UFCW International, stated: “We 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’s leadership and reintroduce pension plans for the hard-working men and women who keep America fed.”
Lauritsen further emphasized that the contract establishes new ergonomic safety measures to reduce workplace injury and fatigue. It allows for dedicated walking stewards and strengthens safety committees to ensure consistent protection for workers across JBS facilities.
Additional gains include retroactive wage increases, improved vacation policies, paid leave enhancements, and notably, “the first-ever paid sick leave program at JBS,” according to Lauritsen. He added: “Today’s 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.”
Ivan Luna Guerrero from UFCW Local 222IN expressed satisfaction with these changes: “For 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.”
Thelma Cruz from UFCW Local 1846 shared her excitement about pensions: “I’ve been working at JBS for 10 years…when I got the news about the pension…My husband also works here…this gives us security.”
The newly ratified contract impacts various locations including Hyrum Utah; Tolleson, Arizona; Grand Island Nebraska; Omaha Nebraska; Beardstown Illinois; Cactus Texas; Worthington Minnesota; Plainwell Michigan; Lenoir North Carolina; Green Bay Wisconsin; Souderton Pennsylvania; Marshalltown Iowa; Ottumwa Iowa. Workers at these facilities are represented by multiple UFCW Locals whose bargaining committees coordinated efforts on an unprecedented national scale within UFCW history.
