Welch Foods Contract Protects Health Care, Raises Wages (8/15/07)

Since 1869, Welch Foods Inc., better known to consumers as Welch's, has been churning out all-natural grape products. In Lawton, Michigan, 275 RWDSU members produce the company's famous juices and jellies. The Local 825 members at the plant have ratified a new 4-year contract with the company that raises wages, locks in workers' health care coverage, and also provides a $500 bonus to all members. In addition, the new contract expands funeral leave benefits and improvements in the temporary disability benefits. The contract also eliminates the lower probationary pay rate for new employees.
"Securing health care benefits was an important part of the negotiations, and we were able to achieve that through the hard work of the negotiating committee and the solidarity of the members," said RWDSU Representative Rose Dietz.