Ice cream producers unionize at Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury plant

December 16, 2023  |  VTDigger.org

Nearly 100 employees will be represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, according to its Connecticut-based Local 371. 

Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory and visitors center is one of Waterbury's largest employers. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti

Employees of Ben & Jerry’s flagship plant in Waterbury have chosen to unionize, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

Ronald Petronella, president of the Connecticut-based UFCW Local 371, said that more than 60% of the plant’s ice cream producers and processors had signed cards seeking to join the union. On Wednesday, he said, the company recognized the union after a neutral third-party verified that a majority of the nearly 100 employees in the bargaining unit supported the move.

“They want to make sure that what they enjoy today they’ll enjoy in the future and maybe get some improvements along with that,” Petronella said.

Representatives of Vermont-based Ben & Jerry’s and the multinational conglomerate that owns it, Unilever, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday afternoon. But in a joint statement provided by the union, the company said, “In keeping with Ben & Jerry’s commitment to being a values-led organization with a progressive social mission, we respect our employees’ decision.”

The company said it looked forward to working “in the spirit of mutual respect and collaboration” as the process progressed. “Our priority is to collectively bargain in good faith to eventually reach a fair and equitable contract that recognizes our hard-working employees and equally works for them, the company, and Ben & Jerry’s incredible customers,” the statement reads. 

Petronella said his local had been working to organize plant employees since March. He said he appreciated that the company had voluntarily recognized the union through the card check process instead of opposing it and forcing an election. 

“We’re just very pleased that Ben & Jerry’s chose to go down this path rather than to be in an adversarial situation,” he said. 

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union represents roughly 1.2 million North American workers in the grocery, retail, pharmacy, food processing and meat packing industries. Local 371 represents employees of some 40 companies in Connecticut and Massachusetts — and now Vermont — according to Petronella. 

In May, employees of Ben & Jerry’s Burlington scoop shop joined the Workers United union, making it the first of the company’s stores to unionize. At the time, Ben & Jerry’s said it welcomed the move and pledged to work with the union.