Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 951 have voted to ratify new contracts with Meijer.
The union that represents more than 25,000 Meijer employees in Michigan says there are three separate contracts covering retail, distribution, transportation, and maintenance workers. Union Local President John Cakmakci tells us the deal includes several improvements.
“There were significant wage increases,” Cakmakci said. “There was 401k improvements. There was paid time off improvements and some, we call it working language improvements regarding paid breaks and all that.”
Cakmakci says the negotiations took about four and a half months.
“Labor negotiations are always contentious, I suppose, but we’ve got a good relationship with them and we were able to resolve most of the issues and we got through it.”
They’re four-year agreements effective February 25, 2024, with immediate wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour. Other improvements to the contracts include more paid time off, a 25% increase in the company’s 401(k) match, more opportunities for full-time positions, and a shortened healthcare eligibility waiting period for new employees.
Cakmakci says he’s proud of the members who served on the bargaining committee and who brought back gains for workers.
