Tyson Foods has announced that it is boosting the hourly pay for most of its chicken plants in the U.S.
“We’re increasing pay to remain competitive in the labor markets where we operate and to retain the quality Team Members we need to keep running successfully,” Noel White, President of Tyson Foods’ poultry business, stated in a press release. “We believe we have the best team in the chicken business and we want to keep it that way.”
So, effective November 1st, 51 of the company’s chicken plants hourly production, maintenance and refrigeration workers will start receiving higher pay. In addition, starting pay for production employees at almost 40 Tyson plants, which in some places previously started anywhere from $8 to $9 an hour, will now go up to a minimum of $10 an hour.
According to the company, Tyson often coordinates third party wage surveys and job market research where it has its facilities. “We offer the highest-paying entry level jobs in many of our plant communities and pay more than most companies in the chicken business,” White said.
The change is, officials said, an effort to boost its employee recruiting and retention, and is one of several changes in store.
Other increases are coming for experienced production, maintenance and refrigeration workers in varying amounts. For instance, top hourly production pay in Tyson Foods’ chicken operations exceeds $16 an hour. Those on the job for more than a year will now receive more than $12 an hour.
Now top pay for some maintenance jobs will reach $23 an hour, while certain refrigeration jobs will be $26 an hour (the highest level as of yet).
Other benefits the company says it offers include:
Tyson Foods reported that about half the members of its entire chicken team have been with the company for five years or more, and almost one-quarter of them have been with the company for two decades or longer.
