Ben & Jerry’s employees lock in their first three-year union contract
December 14, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti
St. Albans and Waterbury Ben & Jerry’s members on final day of contract negotiations. Photo courtesy of Vermont Business Magazine
More than 300 employees at the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream plants in Waterbury and St. Albans recently ratified their first ever union contract.
The workers, new members of the UFCW Local 371, voted to accept the contract on Nov. 26, according to union and company officials. Prior to contract negotiations, the employees earlier this year went through the union-recognition process with Ben & Jerry’s parent company, Unilever.
The union’s announcement said that an “overwhelming majority” of the bargaining unit members voted for the three-year contract.
Bernie Sweet Jr. works at the Waterbury production facility and also served on the bargaining committee. “After a long organizing campaign and long negotiations, we are starting in the right direction to recapturing a time in the past when employees were happy and lining up the door for jobs and the company’s production goals were being exceeded,” Sweet said.
Ben & Jerry’s first opened its ice cream manufacturing plant in Waterbury in 1985; the larger St. Albans facility opened in 1995.
Company spokesman Sean Greenwood shared a statement acknowledging the successful formation of the bargaining unit and completion of the first contract.
“Since the initial inquiry, Ben & Jerry’s Vermont Manufacturing has cooperated in the process and has actively engaged in supporting its workers’ collective voice. The company has committed to working in good faith to acknowledge the union formation effort and a balanced contract with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 371,” the statement said.
Key to the agreement were a change in health benefits and wage increases for workers, the union said.
The company agreed to switch to the the UFCW New England Health Fund. “Ben & Jerry’s members will now enjoy quality and affordable health coverage for themselves and their families, which includes medical, prescription, dental, and optical coverage and a cost savings of up to $8,000 a year in weekly premiums alone,” the union statement detailed.
Jeff Johnson works at the St. Albans production facility and also served on the negotiating committee. He said joining UFCW will make a big difference for workers. “I’m so proud of my co-workers for sticking together and demanding better,” Johnson said. “Joining the union’s health insurance and getting consistent wages means hundreds more in each of my co-worker’s checks each month, and protecting our retirement and our paid time off gives us the security we need in uncertain times.”
The negotiated wage increases will mean raises of 16% by the end of April and an overall increase of 14% over the next three years, the union said. The company also agreed to a varied workshift pattern using 8- and 12-hour shift schedules “to balance the needs of their families with the needs of the production facilities,” according to the announcement.
The union outlined other key elements of the contract including paid parental leave, keeping 401(k) plans with a 9% company match, six months of paid short-term disability and six additional months of long-term disability leave, and longevity bonuses up to $2,000.
Company officials also commented on the tenor of the negotiation process. “Our team has worked tirelessly to respect the manufacturing workers involved, acknowledged their rights, and actively participated in the process consistent with our core values,” said CEO Dave Stever. “It’s been two scoops of collaboration and respect.”
Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury staff members at the contract ratification vote. Photo courtesy of Vermont Business Magazine