Nestlé Purina Workers in Lehigh Valley to Vote on New Labor Contract After Three-Week Strike
Union workers at Nestlé Purina’s pet food manufacturing plant in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, are set to vote on a proposed labor contract this week, potentially ending a strike that has stretched over three weeks. The facility produces well-known pet food brands including ALPO and other wet food lines for cats and dogs.
Approximately 230 members of Local 128 of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) walked off the job on March 24, citing wage concerns and health care benefit disputes. The strike halted parts of production at the plant, which plays a key role in Nestlé Purina’s U.S. supply chain.
According to union representatives, the proposed agreement was reached after extensive negotiations that resumed early last week. Details of the new proposal have not yet been released publicly, but union leaders have scheduled informational meetings and a vote, with results expected by the end of this week.
The contract dispute comes amid ongoing labor tensions across the consumer goods sector, where workforce shortages, cost-of-living pressures, and increasing expectations for job security have fueled union organizing and strike activity. Nestlé Purina is one of the largest pet food manufacturers in North America, and any sustained disruption could impact distribution and shelf availability, particularly among budget and mainstream pet food segments like ALPO, Friskies, and Dog Chow.
Spokespersons for Nestlé Purina have stated that the company remains committed to reaching a fair and competitive agreement. During the strike, the plant has operated at reduced capacity, with non-union staff and temporary workers maintaining limited production lines to fulfill core supply commitments.
Industry analysts are closely watching the outcome of the vote as part of a broader trend toward increased labor activism within the FMCG sector. Rising demand for pet food, especially since the pandemic-fueled pet adoption surge, amplifies the strategic importance of a stable workforce in production facilities like the Lehigh Valley plant.
If the agreement is ratified, the plant is expected to resume full-scale operations shortly thereafter, easing concerns about prolonged inventory strain across Nestlé Purina’s distribution channels.