Swift Workers Win Breakthrough Contract in Marshalltown, Iowa

[Omaha Steve]

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June 25, 2007 05:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Swift Workers Win Breakthrough Contract in Marshalltown, Iowa

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--1,900 workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1149 scored a major victory last week with the ratification of a new contract with Swift & Co. meatpacking plant in Marshalltown, Iowa.

The new contract established considerable wage increases, including $1.40/hr base wage increase over four years and up to an additional $2.00/hr increase in certain job categories throughout the plant.

Workers at the Marshalltown plant obtained improved health care benefits as maximum lifetime health insurance coverage increased from $1 million to $2 million. Orthodontic insurance was added and dental coverage also increased.

“After almost three months of negotiations, we are extremely pleased with the results,” said Local 1149 president, Jim O. Olesen. “The wage increases and better health care benefits will make a big difference in the lives of these workers and their families.”

The UFCW represents 1.4 million workers, 250,000 in the meatpacking and poultry industries.

For more information, contact Andrea Nill, UFCW, 202-466-1591 or email [e-mail]

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