Shortly after the members at Johanna Foods ratified their current contract in May 2017, former Shop Steward Tom Noll filed a class action grievance on behalf of twelve UFCW Local 152 members.
Tom and his coworkers should have received a negotiated increase in wages as outlined in their new contract, but the company failed to follow through and pay them. No matter how many times he brought it up, Johanna Foods refused to honor the new contract and pay the workers what they had earned.
Because Tom was part of the Negotiating Committee, he knew that the company was in the wrong and decided to reach out to his Union Representative Mike Thompson for help.
Shortly thereafter, UFCW Local 152 filed for arbitration on behalf of these twelve workers of Johanna Foods.
The arbitrator agreed with UFCW Local 152 and the twelve members of Johanna Foods, concluding that the company was at fault: these members deserved the wage increases promised to them.
The result was a back pay award for our members totaling $21,830!
UFCW Local 152 will never stop working hard to ensure our members receive fair activity in the workplace. We fight hard, and will continue to fight and represent our membership.
Stewards like Tom exemplify what it means to be a great union member. Without Tom’s tireless efforts, those twelve members would never have received what they rightly deserved. Thank you, Tom!