Leaders from the North Carolina NAACP, including State President William Barber and Wilson Branch President Alonzo Braggs joined with workers and representatives from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union on April 20 to support workers in their bid for a union at Smithfield Packing Company's Wilson, NC bacon facility. The union recently won an election at the company's largest hog slaughterhouse 90 miles away. The NAACP has a historic relationship with the UFCW and with the labor movement, working together for economic empowerment of working people.
In these economic times, it is more important than ever for workers to be able to form a union and bargain with their employers to secure middle class wages and benefits; improved working conditions; and the ability to share in success they make possible for business.
Union members earn more. On average, earn 27% higher than those of nonunion workers
Union workers have better health care. 81% of union workers have job-related health coverage, while only 50% of non-union workers do. Union families pay 43% less for family coverage than nonunion families – that’s a savings of $1,000 a year.
Union workers have more retirement security. 72% of union workers have a guaranteed, defined benefit pension, compared to only 15% of nonunion workers.
That’s why the NC NAACP is supporting Wilson workers in this endeavor, and that’s why we also support the Employee Free Choice Act, which would restore the fundamental right of workers to choose a union on the job and make the American Dream possible again.
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