JBS Foods members ratify new agreement

On June 3, 2026, the 280 members of UFCW Local 175 at JBS Foods in Belleville secured a new collective agreement.

The ratified agreement contains significant language improvements covering overtime for Maintenance employees.

All members receive increases of $2 per hour in year one. Plus, that increase will be paid retroactive for hours worked since October 1, 2025. Members will see subsequent increases totalling $3 per hour over the remainder of the agreement term. A new classification of Reach Operator will now see those members paid the same as a Machine Operator.

The employer will now match up to 6%, instead of the previous 5%, of contributions to the pension plan made by employees who have five years of service or more. This improvement takes effect 90 days following ratification.

Also effective 90 days following ratification, the Union Negotiating Committee secured a new paid sick time program for full-time providing one paid sick day per year for employees who have worked at least 800 hours the previous year. As of January 1, 2028, members will be awarded one additional sick day, for a total of two paid sick days.

Union Negotiating Committee: Mike Labarge, Janet Smallman, John Tan, and Union Representative Joe Tenn.

Find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Read the latest issue of Checkout magazine.