Workers at Wayne Farms Albertville poultry processing facility walked off the job this morning, the second such demonstration in the past two months as employees are set to vote on a new collective bargaining agreement.
A similar walkout took place on Oct. 6, as workers are demanding better working conditions, fewer overtime hours and better pay. The plant’s negotiations with representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers union local 1995 have been ongoing, and a vote on a new three-year contract is scheduled for Wednesday.
According to the company, about 960 employees work at the plant. WHNT is reporting that third shift workers would receive a $3 raise, second shift workers would receive a $2 raise, and first shift workers get a $1.10 raise.
Frank Singleton, a spokesman for Wayne Farms, said the ongoing national labor shortage has impacted Wayne Farms as other businesses, necessitating overtime and weekend shifts at Albertville “in order to keep our plant running and our customers happy.”
“This has prompted a group of impacted workers to walk off the production floor this morning,” Singleton said.
“Over the past few weeks, we have been in negotiations to renew the collective bargaining agreement with employee union representatives, and resolving the issues of overtime and shift pay differential has been a central component of the collective bargaining process. Through unanimous vote of the negotiating committee, we have tentatively agreed on a proposed shift pay differential, which we believe will accommodate their needs and still meet the requirements of our customers.”
Singleton said the company expects the agreement to be approved during a scheduled vote tomorrow.
