Wage Increases Highlight Ohio Fresh Mark Pact (11/5/09)

A new 4-year contract for 205 RWDSU members at Fresh Mark in Massillion, Ohio, increases wages and improves benefits and workplace rules. The contract also protects the health care coverage for members, and there will be no increase in medical premiums over the course of the agreement.

“The members were unified behind the negotiating committee, and as a result we were able to negotiate a contract that they could overwhelmingly support and ratify,” said RWDSU Representative Allen Mayne. “They were tough negotiations, but the solidarity of the members helped make the difference in getting a strong contract in a difficult economy.”

The contract, ratified by an overwhelming 91 percent margin, raises wages 50 cents per hour for everyone in the first year, and also contains 50 cents in wage increases and a $725 lump sum bonus payment over the remaining three years. In addition, seniority language was improved to give members more opportunities to bid on higher paying jobs.

The workers at the plant process bacon products for consumers and large food chains like Wendy’s.