JLL Union Workers Ratify New Contract

  GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 recently voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new Jones Lange LaSalle Americas, Inc. (JLL) contract containing improvements to wages, paid time off, overtime language, health care, and additional holidays. UFCW 951 is the largest private sector union in the state, representing over 30,000 workers in a variety of industries.

JLL is a third-party management company with headquarters in Chicago, that purchased the Meijer Retail Facilities Maintenance contract in 2017. Since then, UFCW 951 has negotiated contracts protecting 75 JLL workers, who are classified as “dedicated Meijer resources.”

“We fought hard for an overall improved contract for the JLL members,” Courtney Phillips, secretary/treasurer of UFCW Local 951, said. “I am proud of the members who served on the bargaining committee and worked together to achieve contract gains that improve the lives of their fellow members.”

JLL members are divided into three different job categories:  Control System Technicians (CST), Mobile Mechanics, and Mobile Engineers. CSTs troubleshoot network and phone systems in the Meijer stores and repair equipment such as meat wrappers and trash compactors. Mobile Mechanics handle general building maintenance, including plumbing, painting, and floor tiles. Mobile Engineers perform heating and cooling, refrigeration, and ventilation work. The workers are based in different regions throughout the state and respond to maintenance requests at their assigned stores within those regions.

“JLL members perform a lot of difficult and strenuous work at the stores, some of which is inherently dangerous,” Phillips said. “They are committed to their jobs and take a lot of pride in their work, which is evident by how well Meijer stores operate every day.”

The new contract went into effect on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

UFCW 951 is the largest private sector union in the state representing over 30,000 workers across Michigan in a variety of industries including grocery, retail, food processing, and pharmacy who are employed at a variety of companies including Meijer, Kroger, JBS, JLL, Sunberry Beverages, Polly’s, Harding’s, and Grandville Roasting & Packaging Plant. The UFCW is the largest private sector union in the United States representing over 1.3 million UFCW members nationwide.

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