SELBYVILLE, DEL. – Mountaire Farms confirmed that the National Labor Relations Board certified the vote taken by workers at the Selbyville, Del., poultry processing plant. In late December, the employees voted by a large margin to disband representation by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 27.

“More than anything else, I am glad that our employees were finally allowed to be heard,” said Phillip Plylar, president of Mountaire. “I thank them for their confidence in Mountaire and we look forward to introducing these team members to their new benefits package.”

With the change in worker representation, Mountaire said employees are now eligible for supplemental life insurance for themselves, and dependent life insurance for their spouses and children. Additionally, eligible workers have the option to participate in the company’s 401(k) plan, including company matching and profit sharing. 

The company also stated that those employees are now eligible for 40 hours of vacation after just 90 days of employment, an additional 40 hours after 180 days, and 80 hours after 1 year. 

An employee-led petition in October was accepted by the NLRB, which is set in motion to let employees remove the UFCW as their representative. Mail-in ballots were then sent out to employees in November. 

In summer 2020, Mountaire employees asked for the decertification of its UFCW chapter but were denied on a technicality. A mail-in ballot was held but the union filed numerous challenges. Eventually, the NLRB threw out the vote without counting it. Fall 2021 was the next opportunity for employees to ask for an election.  

Mountaire Farms said its Selbyville location is the only processing plant owned by the company where there are unions, which have been part of this plant since it was purchased in 1977.