Over 90 Ben & Jerry’s ice cream processing workers at the Waterbury, Vt., plant joined UFCW Local 371 for a better life on Dec. 13. Ben & Jerry’s parent company, Unilever, agreed to neutrality, paving the way for workers at the Waterbury plant to win union recognition by way of card check.
“The UFCW is extremely proud to welcome the hard-working ice cream processors at Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury, Vermont, plant to our union family,” said UFCW International President Marc Perrone in a statement. “From Cherry Garcia to Chunky Monkey, Ben & Jerry’s workers at the Waterbury plant proudly make some of the country’s most recognizable ice cream flavors. As America’s food processing union, we are thrilled at the opportunity to not only represent, but uplift workers at such an iconic American brand and we look forward to bringing this opportunity to other Unilever plants across the country. These workers know better than anyone that whether it’s in a cup or cone, union victory tastes sweet.”
“We applaud the Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury plant employees who made their voices heard today by joining the UFCW through card check recognition,” said UFCW Local 371 President Ronald M. Petronella. “Ben & Jerry’s are well known for their progressive politics, and we held them to their word.”
“We are glad to see Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever live up to their stated values by recognizing their workers’ right to unionize instead of forcing a long and drawn out election process,” Petronella added. “Ben & Jerry’s employees work hard to make the ice cream that so many Americans know and love and we look forward to sitting down at the bargaining table to negotiate a contract with Unilever that gives them the benefits that they have earned and deserve.”
