Unilever Expands Covington Operation

Very slow in Henderson. Down 5 of the next 8 weeks. When we are working only 4 days even if the line running 5 days, replacing operators and handpackers so everyone gets 4 days only. Only 4 lines running on the stick side, been that way since late Sept. Cutting back on expenses and labor but they sure find lots of money to spend on tpm which everybody hates, just can't let us do our jobs and make good ice cream.

See they have 2 gram operators and 2 warehouse techs jobs on line for covington plant.

Tammy
What do they pay in Henderson?
Sikeston maintenance make 24.00 an hour I think
Freezer 20.00
Not sure about others.I hear covington make 3or4 dollars less.

Have they said anything about changes to your retierment?
We have a meeting monday about it.

2 years ago are pay rates were the same as Sikeston. June of 2010 We got a 1.5% raise. I heard you guys got nothing. Is that right. This pass June we got 2% I didn't hear about Sikeston. So now we might be 30 to 50 cents a hour higher.
We have a meeting Wed about our retirement. July 1, 2017 they are freezing the regular retirement. Then I heard everyone will be like the new hires since 2007. On the plus side they on putting 4%into your savings and upper the matching in the 401 plan to 5%. Total of 9% of the first 40 hrs you can get plus what you put in. I heard the pay in Convington was a lot less but I didn't hear by how much. Are you guys getting 4 day weeks also and off the last 3 weeks of the year?

Tammy wrote:

2 years ago are pay rates were the same as Sikeston. June of 2010 We got a 1.5% raise. I heard you guys got nothing. Is that right. This pass June we got 2% I didn't hear about Sikeston. So now we might be 30 to 50 cents a hour higher.
We have a meeting Wed about our retirement. July 1, 2017 they are freezing the regular retirement. Then I heard everyone will be like the new hires since 2007. On the plus side they on putting 4%into your savings and upper the matching in the 401 plan to 5%. Total of 9% of the first 40 hrs you can get plus what you put in. I heard the pay in Convington was a lot less but I didn't hear by how much. Are you guys getting 4 day weeks also and off the last 3 weeks of the year?

Tammy Can I ask how the meeting went and is this a Unilever policy or just your plant?

I think it is Unilever Policy. They took the regular retirement plans from the new hires in 2007 and they have just the 401. Then in July 1, 2017 everyone will just have a 401. They are raising the matching from 4 to 5% and then also putting in another 4% in a savings plan. They said we were getting new products in next year and running Sat on most lines starting the first weekend in Jan. They said that all the plants are being run from overseas now and that all plants in North America are in competition in making lower costs products against each other.

Tammy wrote:

I think it is Unilever Policy. They took the regular retirement plans from the new hires in 2007 and they have just the 401. Then in July 1, 2017 everyone will just have a 401. They are raising the matching from 4 to 5% and then also putting in another 4% in a savings plan. They said we were getting new products in next year and running Sat on most lines starting the first weekend in Jan. They said that all the plants are being run from overseas now and that all plants in North America are in competition in making lower costs products against each other.

"competition" when we are making the same things and workign for the same goal...wow how messed up does that sound. Unilever can be so confusing. Different areas have different cost that make it almost impossible to be on the same level of cost.

Hagerstown operator wrote:

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"competition" when we are making the same things and workign for the same goal...wow how messed up does that sound. Unilever can be so confusing. Different areas have different cost that make it almost impossible to be on the same level of cost.

Yeah it was real confusing. They said something like if a store, middle man, or wal mart could buy it cheaper from another plant that where it would be bought. I don't know how they would have different prices for the same product to choose from. I know if it is true we have such old equipment at our plant maybe producing the same product on a 10 wide or 14 wide mold where one of our other plants has a 20 wide or 26 wide with robots and less people on the line we wouldn't stand a chance producing a cheaper bar.

Tammy wrote:

I think it is Unilever Policy. They took the regular retirement plans from the new hires in 2007 and they have just the 401. Then in July 1, 2017 everyone will just have a 401. They are raising the matching from 4 to 5% and then also putting in another 4% in a savings plan. They said we were getting new products in next year and running Sat on most lines starting the first weekend in Jan. They said that all the plants are being run from overseas now and that all plants in North America are in competition in making lower costs products against each other.

Well one thing is for sure in Hagerstown, there can't be alot of money spent on milk fat for the ice cream becasue most of the fat in our products now is palm oil. Cracks me up when I am running a product that says "premium" on the wrapper and it only contains 3 to 5 percent milkfat. Don't know about your plant but, if they invested the money in updating equipment that they are piddling away in useless machine guarding, machines would run the numbers they used to.

Hagerstown wrote:

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No Covington is slated to be the super center when Unilever is finished. Huntington will be gone as soon as they get the bulk side up and running. Sikeston and Hagerstown are slowing going and then Henderson...I hear the guys in Henderson are very unhappy with the way Unilever is treating them so they probably won't be disappointed either.

Interesting post.

what kind of health insurance does Unilever have. I havent ran into anyone that knows this. Is there dental and vision also. How much

Depends.

Covington, Tn people do make less!$16.00 maintenance. I am so very, very glad my husband did not take this job. So, very sorry to hear of your misfortune. Look, I do see this is an old post, but God has his reasons for everything. You just have to have faith and trust in him.

Can anyone tell me the pay for hourly employees at covington? Im currently at another unilever plant looking to relocate. If its below $20 an hour its not worth it. I also heard rumor of the clearwater, fl plant closing and bringing klondike bars to covington. Can anyone verify that?

pay is below 20.00. Covington has been making Klondike bars since June. Two lines making them now.

Good for Unilever, away from Maryland, they now hav lower taxes, lower wages, lower utilities, lower employee benefits and not paying pensions any longer...wise up Covington...go UNION and get treated fairly, ooops, but then the UNION doesn't play fairly either....sorry I guess you are screwed...be happy with what Unilever throws your way...crumbs are better than nothing!

jkl wrote:

pay is below 20.00. Covington has been making Klondike bars since June. Two lines making them now.

. How much below 20.00

dos anyone know what line tech starting pay is?

what do they start pay at

I know that Process Technicians start at 15.31 doesn't sound right for a company! Can anyone tell me what to expect if hired at the Covington Plant. Thanks!