UFCW Local 1776 Members at Citterio Ratify Contract with IUF Help

Posted to the IUF website 03-Jun-2009

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Local 1776 member and activist Mike Palmer signs a community petition after voting on the contract agreement with Citterio.

UFCW Local 1776 members overwhelmingly approved a three-year agreement with Citterio USA late last month that covers 213 workers. The Italian-based company produces Italian specialty meats at one U.S. plant in Freeland, Penn., and seven in Italy. 'We were pleased to reach an agreement with the company that will maintain high quality benefits with minimal or no cost to our members,' said UFCW Local 1776 President and International Vice President Wendell Young, IV.

In addition to securing affordable health care, the new pact improves hourly wages, increases the company�s contributions to the workers� retirement fund, and adds company funds to upgrade certain job classifications. Local 1776 secured a fair contract with Citterio by working with the UFCW International�s Global Solidarity Program through the IUF. The relationship began during negotiations in 2006, when the local�s bargaining committee first collected information
on how Citterio operates its unionized plants in Italy. In preparation for this year�s contract, the Global Solidarity Program helped organize a delegation of stewards to travel to Citterio�s plants in Italy over the winter. Local 1776 stewards met with staff, stewards, and workers at the Italian meat workers� union headquarters to tour the plants and discuss working conditions, best practices, health care, contracts, and labor law.

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