Two solid contracts ratified
June 29, 2022
OK Produce: The 230 members who work in the OK Produce warehouse in Fresno and are drivers, who work primarily across Northern California, overwhelmingly ratified an early three-year agreement, reports President Peter Nuñez.
“The company was willing to sit down and bargain and our guys did a good job on that one,” says Nuñez. “The members got significant wage increases, improvements to their health and welfare, and increased pension contributions.
Cherokee Freight Lines: About 200 drivers in Locals 431 and 439 share a contract with Cherokee Freight Lines. These drivers deliver crushed grapes from the Fresno and Stockton areas to wine country.
“It took three votes. The members eventually ratified their three-year agreement in June, but it was close,” says Nuñez, who explains that the contract included improvements to wages, health and welfare, and pension.
He added that the company had instituted a major calculation change in how the members were compensated. “They’re now getting paid on a strictly hourly wage from the previous method that included a variety of factors.” Also, Nuñez says, he believed that many of the members were only looking at the wages as opposed to the whole package. “Hopefully they’ll appreciate the pension improvements when they’re ready to retire.”
