Eight months after voting to unionize, workers at the Nutrablend facility in Madera reached an agreement with their employer for a contract.

The 67 unionized workers at the livestock feed company owned by Land O’Lakes will receive a 14% wage increase over three years, a bonus and improved job security, according to a news release from Teamsters Local 517. The workers are now also part of the union’s pension plan.

Teamsters Local 517 has members in the dairy industry, transportation, healthcare, and the public sector.

“The Central Valley produces one-quarter of our nation’s sustenance, and these workers are indispensable to the success of our food supply chain,” said Peter Finn, Teamsters Western Region Vice President and Food Processing Division Director. “It’s an honor to get these hardworking men and women a collective bargaining agreement that reflects how important they are to our country.”

Greg Landers, secretary-treasurer for Local 517, said the first contract is usually the hardest.

Employees at Nutrablend voted to unionize in September 2022, beginning the negotiations for a contract. The 47 workers who voted on whether to unionize decided to do so by more than two-to-one, union officials said.

A request for comment from Land O’Lakes was not returned by press time.