Workers at the JBS pork processing facility in Worthington in Minnesota have voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of strike action in disputes over employment packages.
In a statement issued by the UFCW Local 1161 workers union, workers have called a strike after the Brazil-based meat giant “made no offer of any wage increases, and has repeatedly proposed a health care plan that could drastically increase out-of-pocket costs for workers, while reducing coverage”.
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Discussions have been taking place between the two parties for 10 months, said the union.
“Today, JBS is a successful, profitable, multinational corporation that’s earning profits hand over fist,” said Mike Potter, president of UFCW Local 1161.
“Working people in the plants made this success possible. Yet, the company is demanding that workers accept deep cuts to their health care coverage. Their proposed health care plan is so bad, and so potentially expensive, it could mean bankruptcy for workers who become seriously ill, or decide to have a baby.
“There is simply no economic need to threaten the livelihoods of these workers – the only reason for this is greed.”
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By GlobalDataA spokesperson for JBS told just-food today (9 May) that both parties continued “good faith negotiations” and it was “confident a resolution can be achieved in a timely manner”.
JBS added: “Out of respect for the process and the people involved, JBS will limit further discussions to the bargaining table.”
