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West Jordan Dannon Workers Ratify 1st BCTGM Contract
On February 6, 2010 BCTGM Local 401 members at the Dannon plant in West Jordan, Utah overwhelmingly ratified their first union contract.
International Representative Jim Condran served as the union's chief spokesperson during negotiations and was assisted by International Representative Marco Mendoza. Other negotiating committee members included Local 401 Secretary Treasurer/Businesses Agent Steve Wolfe and Local 401 Chief Shop Steward's Rick Durrant and Boyd Russell.
According to Condran, the committee worked extremely well together. "The Union remained focused on the needs of the workers at Dannon. It feels great after two elections and five months of negotiations to say that the Dannon workers in West Jordan now have a legal binding contract in place," says Condran.
"I am extremely proud of the employees and negotiating committee for standing up for a true voice in the workplace and fighting for their right to become members of the BCTGM International Union family," Condran concludes.
Special Message from International Secretary-Treasurer & Director of Organization David B. Durkee
August 28, 2009 - We had a great organizing victory at the Dannon (Danone) Yogurt plant in West Jordan, Utah, last night. This was a very important campaign, as this plant is a five line plant that is undergoing a major expansion which will make it a ten line plant, doubling the workforce.
Leading this campaign was BCTGM International Representative Jimmy Condran, assisted by International Representatives Blaine Williams, Marco Mendoza and Eric Anderson. Local 401 Financial Secretary Steve Wolfe headed up the effort for the local union and he did a fantastic job! BCTGM International John Price coordinated the campaign with Brother Condran. The organizing committee from the plant was outstanding!
This is the third dairy production facility organized by the BCTGM in the last two years. The first location was the largest Dannon plant in North America in Minster, Ohio, now represented by Local 19 (Cleveland, Ohio). The second location is the Deans Foods Dairy in Richmond, Va. represented by Local 358 (Richmond). This Deans Dairy plant is also undergoing a major expansion.
Once again, hard work, determination and good information has provided our Union with a organizing victory.
Congratulations to all those involved in this campaign!
A special thanks to the IUF and the affiliates who assisted us Internationally, and wrote letters of support and solidarity to the workers employed at Dannon/Utah!
Dannon Workers in Utah receive international support in their effort to join the BCTGM... Click here to read the letters!!
What are the main issues that the West Jordan Dannon workers are facing? Click here to find out, and learn about your rights during the campaign...
West Jordan, Utah Dannon Facility
Fast Facts:
Dannon produces more than 100 million pounds of yogurt per year in this state-of-the-art facility.
More than 125,000 gallons of raw milk per day run through its 50,000-gallon milk silos.
This 160,000 sq.-ft. facility is actually seven connected buildings.
The 10-year-old West Jordan plant is in the midst of its largest expansion ever. The project, which is slated for completion of its first stage of expansion in 2008, will add five new lines to the five currently in place, and will nearly double throughput as Dannon works to grow the yogurt market in the United States.
The plant will also soon begin producing some products for its sister company Stonyfield Farm, and has obtained the necessary organic certification.
The five lines currently in place include a cup filler used to produce cups of Light & Fit brand yogurt in 6 oz cups, three bottle fillers that run at dizzying speeds of up to 30,000 bottles per hour to fill bottles of Light & Fit yogurt drinks and Danimals yogurt drinks, and finally, a form-fill-seal used for multipacked cups of Light & Fit Crave Control and Carb Control cup yogurt.
The expansion in West Jordan will add another 150,000 sq ft to the plant's 200,000 sq ft footprint.
The company received more than $8 million in grant money from Utah economic development agencies. The total project cost will be in the tens of millions.
There are currently 200 employees and about 100 more will be added as a result of the expansion.
Learn More about The Danone Group.
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