January 25, 2021

Pilgrim's Pride increases wages for workers affected by tornado in Kentucky

Major US poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride said it will increase starting wages for workers at its Mayfield, Kentucky plant to US$16.50 hourly (US$2 increase) after the area was affected by tornados last month, Reuters reported.

64 people were killed from the tornadoes. One Pilgrim's Pride chicken hatchery was destroyed, and another was significantly damaged, which supplied farmers in Mayfield.

The company said the total wage increase was US$4.5 million on an annual basis. The pay rise was negotiated with workers union UFCW. 1,500 workers are employed at Mayfield's Pilgrim Pride facility.

The wage increase comes as US meatpackers face worker shortages because of the Omicron COVID-19 variant spreading among workers.

-      Reuters