BROOKS, Alberta, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Workers at Lakeside
Packers have ratified a 51-month labour contract that includes improvements in
wages and benefits, the company reported. The contract ends a strike by
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 401 that began on October 12.
"It's been a long, challenging process for everyone; however, we believe
the terms of this contact will benefit the plant and our Team Members," said
Chris Borgren, manager of Lakeside Packers. "We're hopeful union leaders will
now work cooperatively with us to peacefully bring this workforce back
together.
"We would like to credit the efforts of government-appointed mediators and
the Disputes Inquiry Board process for helping the company and union move
toward a resolution in this matter," Borgren added.
The plant is scheduled to resume operations with all workers on Monday,
November 7. Lakeside's chaplains will be available to talk to Team Members
who have concerns about the resumption of operations that include both workers
who were on strike and those who chose to cross the picket line.
"We will continue to do our best to treat all of our Team Members with
dignity and respect," Borgren said. "We also expect all of our people to
continue to abide by our corporate code of conduct and our core values, which
include an emphasis on the importance of treating each other fairly."
The ratified contract is similar to the company's last offer and has the
same overall economic value. In Canadian dollars, it includes a $1 increase
in the starting hourly production wage to $13 and increases of $1.60 an hour
in base wages over the course of the contract, which would move top hourly
production pay to $17.65 in slaughter and $16.75 in processing. Contrary to
news media reports, this includes an immediate 30 cent an hour increase. It
is followed by 30 cent an hour increases in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and a 40 cent
increase in 2009.
Other major items consistent with the company's last offer include:
* A no strike - no lockout provision. This provision prohibits a
strike, sympathy strike, work stoppage or slowdown by the union or its
members.
* Two, fifteen minute rest breaks and one half hour meal break during
each shift. The first 15 minute break and five minutes of the second
15 minute break will be paid breaks, which is consistent with the paid
break time at a competing plant.
* A limit on company contributions for Alberta Health Care coverage.
Lakeside will continue to pay the full premium cost for health care at
the 2004 rate; however, Lakeside Team Members will begin to share in
the cost if the total exceeds what the company paid in 2004.
Other items that have changed from the company's last offer include:
* Additional yearly increases for select jobs. Quality control,
laundry, janitorial workers will receive a pay increase of 40 cents an
hour upon ratification and in each year of the contract, which --
except in the last year of the agreement -- is a 10 cent an hour
increase from the company's previous offer. Maintenance and
maintenance trade workers will receive an additional 50 to 55 cents an
hour in pay upon ratification and in each subsequent year of the
contract. This is 20 to 25 cents an hour more than previously
offered. This means the top hourly wage for a maintenance trade
worker is now $24.25 and will be $26.45 in the last year of the
contract.
* Sunday holidays. Holidays that fall on a Sunday will be observed on
Sunday, rather than on a Monday.
* Union membership provision. Union membership will be a condition of
employment for all current union members as well as those hired after
November 5. Lakeside workers who are not members of the union at the
time of ratification are not required to join.
* Additional unpaid leave for union business. The company will allow up
to five workers at a time to take as many as 14 days unpaid leave at a
time for union business. This is more than the five days previously
proposed.
* Reduced time frame for short-term disability payments. Workers will
qualify for short-term disability payments after four days instead of
eight days as originally proposed.
Lakeside Packers, part of Lakeside Farm Industries, began operations in
1974 as a beef slaughter operation. IBP, inc. bought Lakeside in 1994 and
added a boxed beef processing operation. IBP was subsequently acquired by
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) in 2001. The Lakeside plant employs more than
2,400 Team Members.
SOURCE Tyson Foods, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.tyson.com
CONTACT:
Gary Mickelson of Tyson Foods, Inc.,
+1-479-290-6111
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