Tyson Workers Say No to Contract Offer
JEFFERSON, Wis. - The United Food and Commercial Workers local representing 470 workers at Tyson Foods' Jefferson, Wisconsin plant rejected the company's latest contract offer Sunday, The Associated Press reports. Workers there have been on strike for almost 11 months.
Workers say health and pension issues still remain as sticking points, and the contract offer doesn't guarantee some jobs and doesn't allow all striking workers to return at once, according to the AP.
Union and company representatives began meeting last month for the first time since the strike began.
The strike was in reaction to a Tyson contract proposal seeking a four-year wage freeze, creation of a lower-level wage scale for new workers, the elimination of the profit-sharing plan, cuts in vacation, sick leave and pension benefits and a bigger bill for less comprehensive health care coverage.
Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson hired replacement workers to continue production at the plant, which makes pepperoni and other processed meat items.
Workers say health and pension issues still remain as sticking points, and the contract offer doesn't guarantee some jobs and doesn't allow all striking workers to return at once, according to the AP.
Union and company representatives began meeting last month for the first time since the strike began.
The strike was in reaction to a Tyson contract proposal seeking a four-year wage freeze, creation of a lower-level wage scale for new workers, the elimination of the profit-sharing plan, cuts in vacation, sick leave and pension benefits and a bigger bill for less comprehensive health care coverage.
Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson hired replacement workers to continue production at the plant, which makes pepperoni and other processed meat items.