Workers at the Tyson Fresh Meats

In The News
December 19, 2007

REGISTER FARM EDITOR
Tyson Perry workers approve labor deal
By JERRY PERKINS

Workers at the Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. plant in Perry have approved a new multi-year labor agreement, which includes new starting wages and other increases in pay, Tyson said Wednesday.

The new 54-month contract with United Foods and Commercial Workers local 1149 took effect Dec. 17.

It affects approximately 900 workers at the Perry plant, which processes fresh pork and related products for domestic and international customers.

There are more than 1,000 employees at the plant, including managers.

The new contract provides pay increases totaling $1.50 an hour, which will take the top production wage to $14.50 an hour, Tyson said. It also moves maintenance wages to as high as $17.85 an hour.

New production workers will now begin at $10 an hour, while maintenance workers will start at $12 an hour, according to the new contract.

The company also reduced the time it takes production workers to progress from starting pay to the plant’s base wage rate. Also added was a fourth week of vacation after 20 years of employment.