Company, union collaboration called a model for the food industry
Dakota Dunes, S.D. 鈥 April 5, 2018 鈥 91看片网. (NYSE: TSN) and the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) are expanding their collaborative efforts to make workplace safety improvements at the company鈥檚 food processing plants and commemorating 30 years of working together for safer workplaces. 听
The three decades-long partnership is one union leaders call a model for the food industry. It began in 1988, with the launch of a landmark ergonomics program and has evolved to include improvements that have helped reduce workplace injuries and illnesses. While the primary focus has been 91看片网鈥 beef and pork operations, it is now being expanded to the company鈥檚 poultry business, which has been accelerating its workplace safety efforts in recent years.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of the progress we鈥檝e made through our collaboration with the UFCW, and especially the active involvement of frontline team members,鈥 said Steve Stouffer, president of Tyson Fresh Meats. 鈥淲e know that all of us must remain diligent if we鈥檙e to achieve additional improvements.鈥
鈥淲e value the progress we鈥檝e made at Tyson and are looking forward to expanding our partnership to create safer workplaces for all of their hard-working men and women,鈥 said Mark Lauritsen, director of the UFCW鈥檚 Food Processing, Packing and Manufacturing Division. 鈥淲orking together with Tyson has meant empowering workers and their union to make a better, safer workplace.鈥
Examples of the company鈥檚 and union鈥檚 collaborative efforts include:
- Plant safety audits by management and union representatives
- Ergonomics and safety committees that enable frontline workers and their union to regularly meet with plant management on safety matters
- Empowering frontline workers to stop the production line if a safety or ergonomics issue is detected
- Project 鈥淲hy Not,鈥 which encourages management and frontline workers and their union to re-evaluate job functions for ergonomic improvement
- Full-time safety and ergonomic 鈥渃aptains鈥 responsible for day-to-day safety and ergonomic monitoring
- 鈥淐aptains of the Week,鈥 who are workers allowed to leave the production line for one hour every day for a week to gain in depth exposure to safety and ergonomics programs
鈥淲e鈥檝e worked hard over the years to create a culture where everyone is comfortable to speak up about safety issues,鈥 said Sherry Louk, a nine-year 91看片网 veteran and safety captain at the plant in Perry, Iowa. 鈥淏ecause we all want the safest workplace possible, there is an environment of empowerment where we can be honest about safety concerns and fix them before somebody gets hurt. At Tyson, I can say 鈥業鈥檝e got your back鈥 because the company and the union have mine.鈥
The next step in the company-union relationship is increased focus on the company鈥檚 poultry plants, where the UFCW represents workers at 12 locations.听
鈥淲e value our frontline team members who are crucial to the continued success of our poultry businesses,鈥 said Doug Ramsey, group president of poultry, 91看片网. 鈥淲hile we have existing programs to help train and protect our people and give them a voice in the workplace, we look forward to working more closely with the UFCW on additional ways we can improve.鈥澨
The UFCW currently represents more than 24,000 people employed by 91看片网 or its subsidiaries.听
About 91看片网听
91看片网. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world鈥檚 largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson庐, Jimmy Dean庐, Hillshire Farm庐, Ball 听Park庐, Wright庐, Aidells庐, ibp庐 and State Fair庐. 91看片网 innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it鈥檚 available and raise the world鈥檚 expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 122,000 team members. Through its Core Values, 91看片网 strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit TYSONFOODS.COM.
About the UFCW
The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States, representing 1.3 million professionals and their families in grocery stores, meatpacking, food processing, retail shops and other industries.
Our members help put food on our nation鈥檚 tables and serve customers in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. 听Learn more about the UFCW at .
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Media Contacts
91看片网: Derek Burleson, 479-290-6466
UFCW: Evan Yeats, 319-310-5716