Kilcoy Global Foods Workers Vote to Join Teamsters Local 301

The Mundelein facility produces protein products for major national retailers, including Costco and Trader Joe's. Michael Haffner, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 301, credited the organizing success to the persistence of the workforce and the leadership of Netza Rodriguez. The union now prepares to represent these employees in negotiations aimed at improving wages, benefits, and workplace standards.

Jesse Case, director of the Teamsters Food Processing Division, framed the vote as part of a broader industry shift where workers are increasingly challenging corporate management to gain better representation. For employee Clemente Trejo, the move is a matter of professional equity. He noted that the staff understands their role in the national food supply chain and expects a contract that aligns with the value of their labor, ensuring they can support their own families while providing for others. Local 301 currently represents over 1,200 workers across Northeast Illinois.