DAKOTA DUNES, S.D., April 05, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods, Inc. (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’s food processing plants and commemorating 30 years of working together for safer workplaces.
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 Tyson Foods’ beef and pork operations, it is now being expanded to the company’s
poultry business, which has been accelerating its workplace safety efforts in recent years.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made through our collaboration with the UFCW, and especially the active
involvement of frontline team members,” said Steve Stouffer, president of Tyson Fresh Meats. “We know that all of us must remain
diligent if we’re to achieve additional improvements.”
“We value the progress we’ve made at Tyson and are looking forward to expanding our partnership to create safer
workplaces for all of their hard-working men and women,” said Mark Lauritsen, director of the UFCW’s Food Processing, Packing and
Manufacturing Division. “Working together with Tyson has meant empowering workers and their union to make a better, safer
workplace.”
Examples of the company’s and union’s 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 “Why Not,” which encourages management and frontline workers and their union to re-evaluate job functions for
ergonomic improvement
- Full-time safety and ergonomic “captains” responsible for day-to-day safety and ergonomic monitoring
- “Captains of the Week,” 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
“We’ve worked hard over the years to create a culture where everyone is comfortable to speak up about safety
issues,” said Sherry Louk, a nine-year Tyson Foods veteran and safety captain at the plant in Perry, Iowa. “Because 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 ‘I’ve got your back’ because the company and the union have mine.”
The next step in the company-union relationship is increased focus on the company’s poultry plants, where the UFCW
represents workers at 12 locations.
“We value our frontline team members who are crucial to the continued success of our poultry businesses,” said Doug
Ramsey, group president of poultry, Tyson Foods. “While 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.”
The UFCW currently represents more than 24,000 people employed by Tyson Foods or its subsidiaries.
About Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) is one of the world’s 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®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®,
Aidells®, ibp® and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more
sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do.
Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 122,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods 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’s tables and serve customers in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico. Learn more
about the UFCW at www.ufcw.org.
Media Contacts
Tyson Foods: Derek Burleson, 479-290-6466, derek.burleson@tyson.com
UFCW: Evan Yeats, 319-310-5716, eyeats@ufcw.org
