Workers OK Oscar Mayer contract

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By Thomas Geyer | Tuesday, June 27, 2006 11:55 PM CDT | () comments

(Times file photo) Oscar Mayer employees approved a union contract at the Davenport plant on Tuesday.

In what is being described as a close vote, members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 431 ratified a new 52-month contract Tuesday with Kraft Foods-Oscar Mayer in Davenport, bringing to an end about five months of hard negotiations, a union official said.

“The negotiations were very difficult,” said local president John Honeycutt. “We’ve been negotiating since February and have been working on an extension since April.”

An offer by Kraft in May was shot down by a 99 percent of the 1,625 Oscar Mayer workers represented by the local, he added.

“We got back to the bargaining table last week and got what the company classified as their last, best and final offer,” Honeycutt said. “The contract was ratified, but it was by a close vote.”

Kraft spokeswoman Cathy Pernu said that the new four year and four month contract was ratified by 55 percent of the union membership.

The negotiations were facilitated by a federal mediator, she added.

“We’re pleased by the outcome and look forward to moving ahead, and focusing on making great Oscar Mayer products in Davenport,” she said.

Honeycutt said there were significant changes made from the offer that was rejected in May.

Wages will be raised $1.15 over the term of the contract, he said, beginning with 35 cents per hour retro back to April with the last contract expired. Then there will be a raise of 30 cents next April and then 25 cents per hour each of the next two years.

“We also made pension gains, and we were able to keep our existing healthcare that they have now,” he said. “However, there will be some increases in employee contributions. That won’t happen this year, but there will be after the first of the year.”

While there is some alternative work schedule language to be worked out, he added that employees cannot be laid off as a result of an alternative work schedule and cannot be forced into an alternative work schedule.

“And some employees that work select jobs got additional monies beside the general wage increase,” Honeycutt said. “That covered about 300 people.”

Also, he said, they were able to keep medical insurance for existing employees who retire with 30 years of service.

The Davenport Oscar Mayer facility produces Lunchables, along with bologna and a variety of other cold cuts.

Thomas Geyer can be contacted at (563) 383-2328 or tgeyer@qctimes.com.