Moving Forward With New Meatpacking Pact in Ohio (2/17/09)

RWDSU members at the Fresh Mark meatpacking plant in Salem, Ohio, have ratified a new four-year contract. The 702 members will see wage increases, and most importantly, complete protection of their health care benefits without any increases in premiums or deductibles.

In addition to the protected health care benefits, employees will also see wage increases and receive one additional personal day off.

“I was very concerned going into negotiations, and so were many of my co-workers,” said  Sue Phillips, who works in the packaging department and has been at Fresh Mark for seven years. “My main concern was the health care coverage, and keeping our costs down. That we ratified a contract that keeps those costs in check is huge. I think it’s a wonderful contract.”

According to 14-year Fresh Mark veteran Shirley Anderson, who helps produce ready-to-eat bacon, the contract keeps the workforce at Fresh Mark moving forward.

“My main concern was that the company would push hard for concessions, and that we would be taking steps backward in this contract. So many workplaces in our area have been giving things up, so it seemed like an uphill battle. But we stuck together, and instead of giving up the things we’ve fought for over the years, we came away with wage increases and other additional benefits.”
“It’s really an excellent contract,” Anderson added.